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'*• BIOGRAPHY 



MRS. SEMANTHA METTLE R, 

THE CLAIRVOYANT; 

BEING A 



CONTAINING AN ACCOUNT OF THE WONDERFUL CURES PERFORMED 
THROUGH HER AGENCY. 



BY FRANCES H. GREEN. fT| 6 0)«uea\\ 



"Goodness is only greatness; in itself 

It rests not on externals, nor its worth 
Derives from gorgeous pomp, or glittering pelf, 

Or chance of arms, or accident of birth ; 
It lays its deep foundations in the soul, 

And piles a tower of virtues to the skies, 
Around whose pinnacle, majestic, roll 

The clouds of glory, starred with angel-eyes." 



fttogwfc: 



PUBLISHED BY THE HARMONIAL ASSOCIATION, 

100 NASSAU-STREET. 

1853 






Entered according to Act of Congress, in the yea 

By FRANCES H. GREEN, 

In the Gerk's office of the District Court of the United States, tor the Southern Dis 
trict of New- York. 




-THJS VOLUME 

IS AFFECTIONATELY INSCRIBED 

&o tfje WiztustXi anti buffering; 

MAY IT GO FORTH 

%& a Jeraftr jjf §1$ ®&rojjs, 

TO PROCIAIM 

That Angels stir the Waters 
IN WHICH 

Jije §icl{ aire Jfe^led. 



PREFACE. 



It is a general custom with writers, in the foreshadowing of this 
primal chapter, to set forth a variety of reasons, whether good or 
otherwise, why the book should have been written ; but, in the 
present instance, if these are not to be found in the book itself, they 
would scarcely be recognized here. The simple truth is, that the 
facts herein recorded, from the illustration which they furnish of 
psychological phenomena, and the relation which they bear to the 
most important developments of the present age, are, in fact, the 
property of the world, and should be disposed of accordingly. 

If the events here narrated are not of a brilliant order in a merely 
exterior point of view, they yet exhibit in a moral sense some of the 
most beautiful principles which could be embodied in any human life. 
The truly great things of the spirit come not in the gorgeous splen- 
dor of worldly pomp, to be unfolded in the broad glare of noonday ; 
but softly and silently as the evening dew their ministry is imparted, 
and we see it only in its energizing results. 

This Biography belongs not more to the Individual than to the 
proper history of the age. When, as is sometimes the case, the inte- 
rior powers and tendencies of Humanity are brought forth, and as it 
were expressed in one personality, it seems proper that the life of the 
one should be held up as an index and example for the many. With 
regard to the peculiar psychological powers of Mrs. Mettler, it is not 
encessary to speak in this connection, since these are sufficiently dis- 



YL ; ACE. 

closed in the work itself; but from an intimate personal acquaint- 
ance with this lady, I ean confidently refer to them as a beautiful 
manifestation of the divine and immortal energies which have long 
slumbered in the human soul, but which are destined at last to be- 
come universally unfolded. The work therefore is presented to the 
public not merely as a private history of an individual, but rather as 
B record of spiritual development, and as an index pointing to the 
pathway of progress in which the race is now rapidly advancing. 
That it may fulfill the purpose for which it is sent forth and do good 
to the world by elevating its conceptions of the true life, is the ear- 
nest desire of The Author. 
New-York, May 30, 1853. 



BIOGRAPHY 

OF 

MRS, SEMANTHA METTLER, 



CHAPTER I. 



THE BIRTH AND NAME. 



There are some lives which, from the beginning, present so 
strong a determination to certain results, that their develop- 
ment seems to be obviously governed by the fixed laws of Des- 
tiny ; while others exhibit only occasional glimpses of the 
interior processes, which are forever working out the great 
Life-problem — silently and secretly, it may be, but none the 
less truly and powerfully. • The first may be followed through- 
out their whole progress by every eye ; but the latter can only 
be traced by the clear-seeing, and deep-seeing, spiritual vision, 
which can penetrate surfaces, and enter, and pervade, and 
interpret, the hidden and mysterious soul of things. To the 
latter class preeminently belongs the subject of this Narrative. 
The beautiful Life-Gem lay so deep in its little casket, that no 
common eye could discover its interior beams ; and the spirit- 
wings were furled so closely in the young form, that no human 



8 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. KETTLER. 

breath might ever stir their ethereal plumage — until the time 
hud come ; and then the whole character became opallescent 
with the long-hidden rays ; and the waking wings, having grown 
large and strung in the severe discipline which had slowly [in- 
folded them, suddenly burst forth, with a power and splendor 
which have been but seldom witnessed in this, the first stage 
oi' Human Progress. 

Skmantha Beers was born at Black Rock, in the County 
of Fairfield, and State of Connecticut, May 20, 1818. Her 
native place, which to this day maintains its mysterious attrac- 
tion for her sensitive spirit, is a beautiful little village border- 
ing on Long Island Sound, and about two miles from the City 
of Bridgeport. 

Mrs. Mettler's father, Samuel Beers, was noted for his great 
benevolence and kindness of heart ; and in all the relations of 
life — his public business capacity, and his domestic and social 
connections — he well sustained this character. Her mother, 
whose maiden name was Hannah Judd, was an impersonation 
of Charity — a universal friend of the poor and suffering ; and 
of these excellent parents, Mrs. Mettler was the seventh child. 

She w r as so very lovely and beautiful a babe, that her mother 
felt a high degree of anxiety in regard to her name. But after 
a long search, and much thought on the subject, she could find 
nothing that seemed worthy of the fair little doveling, who, 
from the very first, had seemed to nestle in her bosom with 
such unusual presentiment of a peculiar sanctity. While exer- 
cised in this w r ay, Mrs. Beers one night dreamed that several 
persons surrounded her, one of whom relieved her of the pecul- 
iar cause of her anxiety, by saying in a sweet and solemn voice, 



EARLY HABITS. 9 

which accorded well with the serene majesty of the figure : 
" Call thy babe Semantha 1 " 

Mrs. Beers, on waking, woke her husband also, and informed 
him of the dream, saying at the same time : " It is the most 
beautiful name I have ever heard ; and I will accept it for my 
child." 

Now, when the subsequent life is taken in connection with 
the subject of the vision, and the meaning of the name itself, 
we can not doubt that it was given by the Guardian Spirits of 
the child, as a prophetic earnest of her beautiful Future. The 
name Semantha, in its general sense, is said to signify, pure 
Benevolence; and how truly this idea has been unfolded, 
it is my present purpose to show. 



CHAPTER II. 

EARLY HABITS. 

The little Semantha grew in the interest of her strange and 
almost unearthly beauty, until the close of her first year, when 
her parents removed to Fairfield, a neighboring village, yet 
belonging to the same township. Here soon began to develop 
a thoughtful turn of mind, and a disposition to solitude. Her 
father, during a period of twelve years, kept the Jail of Fair- 
field County. This building is situated in the midst of a beau- 
tiful green lawn sloping toward the South ; and when but an 
infant of five or six years, she would steal away into some 
shadowy noook, and throwing herself down among the fresh 



10 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. KETTLER. 

gr&88, look up into the sky, or Off over the Sound, for hours 
together, gazing, and listening, and wondering, until a g 
sense of awe overwhelmed her with the fastness which 

could neither find a line to measure, nor a thought to reach. 
And in this way was first called forth that sentiment of Ven- 
eration, which afterward made her religions affections so strong 
and active. 

At the end of the green stood the school-house ; but this 
was by no means an agreeable feature, in the mind of the young 
Seeress. She early exhibited a most confirmed dislike to the 
restraint, both of school and study. No kind of reading pleased 
her except History, or Narratives of fact : and even the best 
of these would be thrown aside for a ramble in some.shadowy 
dell, where, the great influences that were silently operating on 
her character, might come freely, and the process of her spirit- 
ual development be undisturbed. 

We next see her, a child of nine or ten, couched among the 
sunny grass, almost hushing her small breath to look and listen ; 
for there were forms in the light, and voices in the wind, that 
were forever attracting her away — away — away ! — out in the 
distance — beyond the reach of human eye, or voice. 

Following this impulse, the moment she was freed from 
school — if indeed she did not free herself by desertion — she 
would wander off alone for the indulgence of this predetermined 
love, of what on the surface appears like solitude, but which 
must have been really a spiritual companionship, whether its 
affinities were called forth by the Essence pervading Xature, 
or concentrated in the presence of unseen angels. Her favor- 
ite haunt was the beach, w T hich in that region is of beautiful 



EARLY HABITS. 11 

white sand, with one of the loveliest sea views in the world. 
After getting tired of gathering shells and ocean-flowers, she 
would sit down on the shelving slope, and look over the great 
profound, and listen to the booming tide, until her young spirit 
grew into the freedom and the strength, the grandeur and sub- 
limity, of the scenes she witnessed. 

Sometimes, with a sudden impulse, she would rise, and ex- 
tend her steps still further, by the two old mills, and over the 
two old bridges, that lay between Fairfield and Black Rock. 
Ascending the ruins of an old Fort, she would survey the scene 
of her birth with the most intense delight. " And sometimes, 
unable to resist the attraction, she would hastily throw on her 
little sun-bonnet, which had been flung aside for the better 
view, run down the walls of the Fort ; and bounding away 
over the beautiful shore, make a flying visit to the dear old 
place. 

In other moods she would retire to the seclusion of an ancient 
cedar grove that lay back of the village, and throwing herself 
into the deepest shadow, lie there, until her whole being was 
penetrated, and pervaded, by the somber majesty that filled 
her with a vague sense of grandeur and of awe. 

And thus, through all these ministries of Nature, her Spirit- 
guardians were ever holding converse with the young Soul, 
that yielded itself to the attraction, without ever dreaming of 
the secret of its beautiful love. And thus were inlaid, in the 
very basis of her character, not only her wonderful intuitions, 
but the strength, and power of endurance, which would be 
required to develop and sustain them. 

Then again there were periods, when the exuberant gaiety 



12 BIOGRAPHY OF Mlis. METTLBR. 

and happiness in the life of the child, broke forth in very differ- 
ent directions, indeed, the predisposition to silence, solitude. 

and melancholic impressions, were but the reaction of an e.\< 

ive vitality under peculiar Circumstances ; and hence what may 
properly be termed the normal condition of the vital system, 
would often assert its preeminence, and reassume its preroga- 
tive. On these occasions, there was nothing that seemed to 
appease the almost too ardent flow of life, like exercises on 
horseback. She would make a picture of some quaint old 
costume of forty years ago, if we could see her, as she was 
arrayed for these equestrian expeditions, in some antiquated 
remains of her mother's wardrobe, the masquerading effect of 
which delighted her extremely. Among these, her favorite 
dress w T as a blue cloth pelisse, with the line of the waist hover- 
ing lightly over the tips of the shoulder blades, the effect being 
increased by a belt about an inch wide, and a kind of habit- 
frill just behind. This garment which, on a rather delicate 
child of eleven or twelve years, would lap from side to side, 
and trail far on the ground, had all the dangerous encumbrance 
of the limbs, and restraint of motion, if not the gracefulness 
and picturesque beauty, of a modern riding-dress. But little 
did Semantha care, when on pleasurable thoughts intent, she 
thus arrayed herself, with some kind of a fancy article in the 
way of head-dress, which hightened the effect, to surmount the 
wdiole. When moved in this way she would take the horse 
from the stable, saddle him herself, mount, and scour the coun- 
try for miles around. 

Then again, if her father drove up to the door in a sleigh, 
or a wagon, she w r ould take possession of the vehicle,' gather 



EARLY HABITS. 13 

together, at short notice, as many of her young companions as 
possible, and drive off with all the pride and spirit of a young 
Phaeton ; and almost strange it is, that she did not meet with 
as disastrous an end, — only that she was reserved for quite 
other purposes. 

There is no doubt that these exercises were not only a result 
of large vitality, but that they, in their turn, contributed to 
nourish, and form a strong basis for the very large vital appa- 
ratus, which Mrs. Mettler constitutionally possesses, and with- 
out which, she could not, by any means, sustain the demands 
which are continually made on the physical, as well as the spir- 
itual powers. We can see by this one fact, which a superficial 
observer might pass by as a point not worth regarding, while 
others of higher notions might even think it mars the beauty 
of the story to mention it, a direct training for certain and im- 
portant ends. But we shall find that in any truly natural 
development there is not a single phenomenon, however trifling 
it may appear, but has its specific end and use ; and often, too, 
what appears the most trifling, may, in reality, be the most 
valuable and important. 

But these principles, in their general sense, were a dead let- 
ter to those who were most intimately associated with Seman- 
tha ; and in their particular application, few would have been 
so prophetic as to discover in these erratic habits of the way- 
ward little being, any for esh ado wings of the remarkable char- 
acter which a few years have already projected on her yet 
young life. It is not strange, then, that she had obtained at 
home, and among her acquaintances generally, the name of a 
romping truant, who had the ill taste to prefer her own soci- 



14 BIOGRAPHY OF IfRS. MKITLER. 

ety, or that of Nature, to the common-place chatter of her 
young associates ; or, If she admitted any company, to select 
the children of* the poor, or colored children — one of whom, a 

little girl belonging to the latter class, was the only one who 
was ever freely admitted to her sacred haunts. 

They did not know that a BUpersensuous influence had first 
set those little active feet in motion, and then staid them in 
some spot, where, through the beauty or grandeur of its exter- 
nal features, the speech of angels might best be enwrought 
with the unfolding soul. They did not know that the very 
choice of her associates, was inspired by that sweet charity, 
which, in the due order of development, was to reabsorb her 
activities, and send them forth in acts of love so wonderful, 
they may well take the name of miracles. 



CHAPTER- III. 



RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS-. 



The religious sentiment, which, in a mind thus constituted, 
would have been so beautiful in its true and natural unfolding, 
was partially warped by the old doctrines of Malevolence and 
Selfishness, which have so long bound a halter round the neck 
of Christendom, that the bondage has become habitual ; and 
the chains are not only worn unconsciously, but they are often 
sported as ornaments, and made the ministers of a poor and 
miserable vanity. This mal-inspiration began early to make its 
impressions on her peculiarly reverent and sensitive nature. 



RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS. 15 

Yet the original stamina of her mind could not be entirely sub- 
dued by these false, and utterly groundless, convictions ; for 
there was at the basis of her character a pretty substantial 
stratum of reasoning power. This, without being at all able 
to express its thoughts intelligibly, demanded consistency — in 
short, demanded that for every effect there should be an ade- 
quate cause. Otherwise there would be a sense of fallacy, of 
injustice, of wrong, in some form or other. 

Such were the impressions which -she received from the then 
popular doctrine of endless punishment. From her exceeding 
large benevolent affections, the mind became early excited in 
regard to this momentous subject. There was a disagreement 
among the witnesses, which, with all the mental effort she 
could bring to bear upon it, would not be reconciled. Poor, 
simple child ! She did not know then, that even with all the 
concentrated power of those who assume to be the world's 
wisest and highest teachers, they can only reconcile these diffi- 
culties by creating greater. And in her true and simple 
thought, she went on wondering, how it could be that God had 
made all inferior beings so happy in their several conditions, 
and the exterior world so beautiful, while, at the same time, 
Man, his highest and greatest work — unless he attained to cer- 
tain conditions, which very few, or a very small portion of the 
human family could reach — should be punished eternally for 
sins which he had been led to commit, through the errors of 
a man and woman, who lived and died more than five thousand 
years ago ! And the question would continually recur : " Why 
has God made the birds so happy, without care or trouble, and 
me, a little child, that has a living soul, and knows more tha 1 



16 BIOGRAPHY of MRS. BOTTLER. 

a thousand birds, with this terrible fear, like a hideous phan- 
tom coming between me and the beautiful earth, stealing into 
my dreams with its horrible grimaces, and easting its black 
shadow athwart the cheering sunshine '.'" The mind was con- 
tinually putting forth questions like these. .But no answer 
came. 

These impressions, at times, would entirely overpower the 
keen joyousness of her nature ; and then would come periods 
of intense mental suffering. O ! who knows — who understands 
— that profouudest of all mysteries, the mind of such a child ; 
for in its abnormal, or premature unfolding, it is like conscious- 
ness aroused in the bosom of Chaos — a world of crude and 
fragmentary hopes, feelings, thoughts, yearnings, and impres- 
sions, which can only be evolved in their true proportions, by 
much preternatural feeling, thought, and suffering. And often 
all these processes are silently hidden away ; and the child 
may be chidden, or even punished, for some negligence of ex- 
ternal duty, which has grow r n out of these very struggles. Let 
those wdio watch over the development of young Immortals be 
very careful how they exercise their prerogative, lest by undue 
severity they crush the folded wing of angels, even wmile it 
is expanding in the tender mind. And especially is this to 
be guarded against with the sensitive, and those who are retir- 
ing in their habits. 

One of the greatest misfortunes of childhood fell to the lot 
of Semantha ; that of not being comprehended, or understood 
— or rather of being msunderstood by those about her. Could 
any person have entered into the confidence of that young 
bosom, how much suffering might have been prevented ! But 



RELIGIOUS IMPRESSIONS. It 

how much strength would also have remained undeveloped, we 
are not permitted to know. The inner portals of her mind 
inclosed a holy of holies, where only angels entered ; and in 
looking back from this point, as over a long and painful 
journey in the distance, we can not forbear exclaiming ; how 
lovingly and wisely have they led the Spirit which they thus 
early consecrated ! 

jSemantha in these sorrowful moods had no recognized friend 
b4 Nature ; and always, in their first appearance, she yearned 
anjl, if possible, sought for solitude. Often as she sat on the 
beach, or in the cedar grove, she yielded to the sad effects of 
hei early indoctrination. And there, where the thought was 
peculiarly at war with every thing around her — so serene and 
peaceful — she felt a sense of utter depravity, which could no 
more rightfully be associated with such a child, than with a 
biri, or a star, or a flower. And as she looked around, in her 
simplicity of thought, she would wonder again, how God could 
ha^e made every thing else so beautiful, and herself alone, of 
all she saw, so very wicked and miserable ! Yet while these 
solitary scenes favored the growth of a morbid and unnatural 
consciousness, they also, under all these coverts, unfolded a 
deep and truthful religious character. 

The mind of the child became very much affected by this 
precocious development of the religious sensibilities ; and an 
unnatural gloom hung out a heavy cloud between her and the 
spiritual sun, which, could it have shone freely into the inno- 
cent bosom, how serenely would the days and nights have been 
i flowing onward, while the young heart kept time with its joy- 
.ous and loving pulses. But hers was to be the true calm that 



18 BIOORAPHY of MRS. mk'iti.kk. 

is brought out of the tempest — the positive harmony that is 
extracted from discord — the absolute strength and power that 
are won from straggle ; and therefore she must suffer. 

Every strongly marked character must be unfolded by crises, 
when there seems to be a concentration of energy to a given 
point, producing results which, after thej are recognized, create 
land-marks on the life-road, ever showing how the path of [he 
Future was marked by their appearance. Yet these epochs 
may come and go unconsciously for the present, to the subject 
and all around him. Of this character was the incident lam 
going to relate. 

When about eleven years old Semantha was very much 
interested in her Sabbath-school Teacher's account of the .Mil- 
lennium. And, doubtless, much to the surprise, if not disnay 
of the latter, the following question was propounded by our 
young heroine. 

• ■ You say that all the people who are converted wfll be 
saved, and no others ; and all who are living at the time of the 
Millennium will be converted, and be saved. If I am firing 
when the Millennium comes, shall I be saved ?" 

The Teacher could not answer. And thus the poor child 
w r as cut off from the miserable possibility of salvation ! But 
the etfect of that unanswered question never wore olf. An un- 
conscious distrust of orthodoxy, so-called, was then awakened ; 
and though it was partially paralyzed, it lay in the young mind 
still latent ; nor could all the pressure of unnatural burdens — 
the weight of Creed and Dogma — crush the life out of it. 



RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 1£ 



CHAPTER IY. 

RELIGIOUS EXPERIENCE. 

About a year after the circumstances alluded to in the last 
chapter, a protracted meeting was held at Fairfield, and great 
interest was manifested by old and young. This could not pass 
by without leaving its effects on a mind naturally thoughtful, 
and predisposed to venerative feeling, though as yet it had 
never been awakened to a strong and continued sense of relig- 
ious obligation. Semantha attended the meetings regularly, 
and became much exercised. Her feelings continually deepened 
in tone and strength, until at length she was greatly excited 
and distressed in mind ; but finally this state subsided into one 
of a sweet spiritual rest and peace, which was exactly suited to 
that early period of development. A little while before her 
conversion, she attended a prayer-meeting, where she was 
requested to pray ; but the sense of veneration was so strong, 
and her emotions altogether were so intense, that she lost all 
power of speech. She felt such a sense of unworthiness to 
address her Maker, that the words seemed crushed in her 
mouth ; and she could not utter a sound ; but was not that 
feeling, whether it was so accepted or not, the very concen- 
trated essence of all prayer ? 

After she was brought out into a happy conversion, she, in 
connection with -several children about her own age, used fre- 



20 BIuokai'HV Off MRS. MWBPf.lB 

quen tly to appoint meetings for reading and prayer ; and in 
those little gatherings she often experienced a sense of delight, 
which she now believes to have been a true spiritual illumina- 
tion. She eontinued in these religious exereises about one 
year, and then united with the Presbyterian Church of Fair- 
field. 

Each candidate for membership was taken into a room with 
the Minister and two Deacons, to undergo a spiritual examina- 
tion, before being admitted. As the father of Seinantha kept 
a public house, wherein she was open to many temptations, her 
preparatory discipline seems to have been rather more strict 
and rigid than that of the others. Mr. Beers, her father, also 
played the violin ; and frequently his professional services were 
called for to assist on convivial occasions, at balls and parties ; 
and he thus, as it were, brought the voice of the Tempter into 
his own dwelling. The child was closely questioned in regard 
to this point, whether she loved God so truly, that she could 
resist all this temptation of the domesticated Syren, and if she 
did not think parties and balls, and every thing of that kind, 
very wicked. In the simplicity of- her heart she answered, that 
she thought she could resist them all, and that she believed 
such amusements as were mentioned, very wicked, indeed — 
whereupon she was accepted, as a true and hopeful light of the 
Christian Church alluded to above. 

In the summer of 1832, when the cholera made its appear- 
ance in Xew-York, many persons will remember what a general 
panic pervaded the whole country. During all that summer 
Mr. Beers was very melancholy ; and a sense of gloom hung 
over the whole family. ' He could not bear to hear a single 



REMOVAL TO BRIDGEPORT. 21 

word said of it, affecting to think the accounts were greatly 
exaggerated. But the forebodings proved to be too true, 
indeed. One Sabbath day in the month of August, three sat 
at table together ; and before the next Sabbath they w r ere all 
buried — Mr. Beers and two men who boarded at the house. 

This melancholy event uprooted all previously existing family 
arrangements. Mr. Beers had been a very liberal man in vari- 
ous ways ; and as a result of this, rather than any mismanage- 
ment, his estate was rendered insolvent. Yet he left behind 
the sweet savor of a good name, unstained by any greater indig- 
nity than that of cherishing a spirit whose liberality had rather 
too far outgrown his creed ; and also of having been set aside 
from the Presbyterian Church, for playing the violin at balls. 
After this happened Mrs. Beers, manifesting a very proper 
feeling and spirit, never again entered the church doors ; but 
she and her husband both attended the Episcopal Church, 
which they afterwards joined, 



CHAPTER V. 

REMOVAL TO BRIDGEPORT MARRIAGE LIFE IN BUFFALO. 

In the Autumn of the same year, Mrs. Beers, with her fam- 
ily, removed to Bridgeport ; and Semantha, then but a little 
way in her thirteenth year, continued to reside with her. The 
young convert carried with her a letter from the Church at 
Fairfield to the North Congregational Church at Bridgeport, 
to which she was thus formally transferred. 

As a means of livelihood, Mrs. Beers took a large number of 



22 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. BOTTLER. 

boarders. She kepi no servant and all the assistance she had 

from the child who had, until then, been almost wild and 

free as the breezes Of her native hills. Some idea of the actual 

amount of labor to which she was, by her nee mbjected, 

may be gathered from the tact that in addition to all the run- 
ning, waiting and tending, and the multiform household exer- 

3 which would naturally i'all to the share of the youn. 
worker, Semantha had a great deal of hard work to do. How 
her little hands, and feet, and hack, and heart, too, must have 
ached sometimes, not only from the severity of the labor, but 
from the effect of contrast between the Past and Present ! 
But still she kept on, with a strong will, and a true heart ; 
and no lasting ill effects seem to have been produced by the 
hardships she endured at that early and tender period. With 
all this, she was a regular and zealous attendant on all the 
external ordinances of religion ; she sang in the choir, and was 
much beloved in the church. 

In the Spring of 1835, just after having completed her sev- 
enteenth year, Semantha, was married to Mr. J. It. Mettler, of 
Alexandria, Hunterdon County, Xew-Jersey ; and very soon 
she went to live with her husband in New- York, where having 
remained a few r months, she returned to Bridgeport, and staid 
with her mother, while Mr. Mettler was establishing a business 
in Buffalo. In the following Spring, 1836, he came on after 
her ; and she went with him to Buffalo, where they lived about 
live years. 

And now began to be exhibited trials and sufferings, which 
were not only to unfold her wonderful powers, but the heroic 
energy and strong determination of Will, which were required 



LIFE IN BUFFALO. 23 

for their development. The young couple begun life in Buffalo 
with the most nattering hopes ; but misfortunes, one after an- 
other, blighted the fair prospect, in the first freshness of its 
budding flower. 

The first year of her residence in Buffalo, Semantha was 
extremely homesick, though surrounded by many agreeable 
acquaintances and friends. In the Spring of 1837, she went 
home for a visit, and spent the Summer with her mother in 
Bridgeport. After she went back to Buffalo, she was perfectly 
contented, until the last year and a half of her life there. In 
the second year of their residence in Buffalo, Mr. Mettler lost 
much property by the great flood which occurred in the autumn 
of 1837. By a sudden rise of the lake, in a single night, goods 
to a very large amount were completely destroyed. These 
losses caused great trouble and embarrassment, and finally 
broke up his business. 

In the Spring of 1840, Mr. Mettler, having in the course of 
business taken a good deal of stock, and not meeting with ready 
sales in his immediate vicinity, finally concluded to take it to 
Philadelphia. He experienced a great deal of trouble ; and 
quite unexpectedly his stay was protracted to about four months. 
Mrs. Mettler was in a state of extreme anxiety, in regard to 
her husband, during all this long period ; and toward the latter 
part of the time she was really desperate. At last she made 
up her mind that if he did not return soon, she would pack up 
her goods and go home ; but fortunately he appeared before 
she could put this scheme in execution. On his return she 
learned that he had been locked up in the debtors' prison by 
a cousin of his, for a debt which it was impossible for him to 



24 BIOGRAPHY Of UBS. METTLER, 

pay. This cousin was reputedly a wry pious young man, and 
a member of Dr. Spring's church. W he had not imagined 
that he had more than an ordinary share of religion, or if he 
had been possessed of a true religious spirit and principle, he 

might have looked on the poor man and his helpless family 
with sympathy instead of inflicting, as he did, a most cruel 
punishment on the guiltless. 

It appeared on his return home, that there was little encour- 
agement came with him. LLis whole expedition had been a 
most disastrous one ; and he had unwisely neglected writing, 
fearing to distress her, and hoping for better times. The pres- 
ent was dark ; and the future loomed up in the cold distance, 
with the infinite gloom of an eternal midnight. But dark as 
it was, a far darker period was close at hand — a time of suffer- 
ing so terrible that Imagination was vanquished by the fearful 
reality. About three weeks after Mr. Mettler got home he 
was attacked by a bilious fever, which kept him ill for six 
weeks. The second week after, the little boy was attacked, and 
on the fourth week Mrs. Mettler herself, when they all lay 
sick together. For about twelve weeks the house was a per- 
fect hospital. After Mrs. Mettler's recovery, her husband was 
seized with the fever and ague, which lasted nearly a year. In 
the mean time he had settled with his creditors, and removed to 
another part of the city. During the Winter Mr. Mettler, 
though still very feeble, worked, whenever he could, in a livery 
stable, for fifteen dollars a month. This, with one hundred 
dollars worth of goods from a store, was all the support they 
had ; and they were often brought to extreme w T ant. Think 
how much that poor wife must have suffered during that4ong 



RETURN HOMEWARD. 25 

and tedious Winter I Often she would sit down by the window 
to watch for her husband's return from work, to see if she 
could gather from his countenance, or manner, any hope ; but 
as often was she obliged to turn away, with a sick heart. At 
this time the general distress of the family was greatly increased 
by the sickness of the oldest boy, which continued nearly all 
winter, and toward Spring the second boy was attacked with a 
paralysis of one whole lower limb, from which he has never yet 
recovered. 



CHAPTER VI. 

RETURN HOMEWARD. 

Early in the spring Mrs. Mettler's third child, a daughter, 
was born — as it then appeared — to nothing but a full inherit- 
ance of suffering, and sorrow. Mr. Mettler then sold off all 
he possessed, in order to obtain the means of conveying his 
family back to Bridgeport, or the vicinity of their friends ; and 
when her babe was only six weeks old, Mrs. Mettler, with her 
three little children, set off alone, Mr. Mettler going by land, 
in order to transact some business for a friend. At that time 
he was very feeble ; for he had not yet recovered from the fever 
and ague. He could scarcely drag himself along. This was 
another cause of anxiety to Mrs. Mettler ; but she had no lack 
of these. John, the oldest boy, still remained very feeble ; 
and the lame one required almost as much care and attention 

as the babe in her arms. It would seem as if all these would 

2 



26 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKHLKR. 

have been trial enough for one poor broken-hearted woman ; 
but the carts and trials of Mrs. Mettler did not stop here. 
She also took charge of an old man, who, having lost all his 
property, had fallen into a state of ill health, and hopeless im- 
becility. If he had been of a cheerful turn of mind he might 
have given back now and then a ray of comfort, in return for 
the attention he received, liut instead of this, he was daily 
troubled with that most uncomfortable of all Imaginations, both 
to its subject and those about him — a fear of immediate death, 
and in addition to every thing else, she had him to care for and 
comfort ; but he was very grateful, and daily pronounced his 
blessing for her kindness. 

It does really seem true that misfortunes are gregarious, and 
fly in large flocks ; for the old adage that they never come sin- 
gly, may be sustained by a multitude of facts. Owing to the 
great number of boats which were at that time in motion, caus- 
ing much delay in passing through the locks, they were three 
weeks on the way to Schenectady ; and hereby hung another, 
and a very great trial. Mr. Mettler had agreed with the Cap- 
tain of the boat for the passage of the family ; but when the 
latter found how much longer it was taking than he had anti- 
cipated, he demanded double pay. 2s ot being supplied with 
any extra funds, Mrs. Mettler, instead of getting her meals on 
board as had been arranged, when she would have had at least 
comfortable fare, was obliged to give up the board, and get 
provisions, and cook for herself by the way. And this not only 
added to her labor, but also many times deprived her of meals 
at the right season, and of the proper nourishment which her 
system required. 



RETURN HOMEWARD. 27 

Just before reaching Schenectady a young man and his sister 
came on board, who appeared very kind, and manifested a 
great deal of interest and sympathy. They were going to New- 
York ; and the brother took it upon himself to attend to Mrs. 
Mettler's baggage in changing from the canal to the cars, and 
then again to the steamboat on the river. On arriving at Al- 
bany she asked him if her baggage was all safe ; and being 
answered in the affirmative, she went on board the steamer 
with a happy heart, confiding in his care, and rejoicing that she 
had found so good a friend. 

But when she arrived in New- York, on calling for her bag- 
gage, she found that a large band-box which contained all her 
babe's clothing, and many other useful articles, was gone. 
Here was a fresh trial which it is difficult really to appreciate. 
She not only lost some really valuable things ; but she was 
left without even a change of clothing for her babe, and with- 
out the means of getting more. Thus was her appearance 
among her friends, which was already sufficiently mortifying to 
an ambitious and high heart, rendered more forlorn and pov- 
erty-stricken. 

Success is the great god of Earth ; and in our zeal for the 
worship we sometimes forget, or leave out of our reckoning, the 
elements which contributed to produce it, or the means by 
which the substance of the great Golden Calf has been gath- 
ered together, and molten into the imposing form it wears. So, 
on the other hand, Failure is the great crime — the universal 
curse of the world — and no matter wiiat powers may have been 
called forth in the struggle. The unfortunate one may have 
fought with the heroism of a niartyr — may have suffered with 



28 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER. 

the divine sweetness of an angel — but with a very large por- 
tion of the world the exterior fact, and its attendant curse, 
remain the same, and are imputed to the Sufferer as the one 
unpardonable sin, for which there is no mercy. We must, 
some time, gel the better of this great injustice, and come out 
into a truer estimate of things. 

But to return to our travellers ; it was a cold damp morn- 
ing which, in the last of Spring, always looks bo heart-sickening 
and discouraging, when Mrs. Mettler arrived in >>'ew-York ; 
and almost every person knows how much dismal weather 
affects one who is very miserable. The young mother was 
oppressed with a deadly sinking of the heart when the last 
blow was struck, and she came really to comprehend her loss. 

Her ill-disguised agony of mind attracted the attention of a 
gentleman who w r as walking the dock ; for it was so very early 
in the morning that whatever happened was conspicuous. On 
learning her pitiable condition he came forward, addressed her 
very kindly, and offered his services for the recovery of the 
baggage, and also to assist her to the place where she was 
going. 

Mrs. Mettler was still obliged to take her protege, the old 
man, along with her to* the house of her husband's brother, 
where she was received very coolly. Her sister-in-law^ did not 
make her appearance until two hours after her arrival ; and 
the next day she left her dejected and miserable guest, alto- 
gether. 

Mrs. Mettler remained there till the next day in the after- 
noon, and then went to her own brother's, where she was very 
cordially received ; and in a week after that Mr. Mettler 



LIFE IN NEW-JERSEY. 29 

arrived. His sufferings during that long and lonely journey, 
over mountain and through valley, had been intense ; and only 
by a struggle for life had he been able to endure them. But 
his health was so broken down, that after having reached his 
father's house, he sunk under a renewed attack of his disease 
— chills and fever — which he had in as terrible a form as one 
could pass through and live. Mrs. Mettler then went to her 
mother's where she remained through the summer. 



CHAPTER VII. 

LIFE IN NEW-JERSEY. 

Besides the whole care of her three little children, two of 
them helpless — Semantha assisted her mother in household 
affairs, and had to work very hard. Mr. Mettler was entirely 
without business, or any means of dependence, whatever. 
There was nothing bright in the present, and no hope in the 
future. During this visit at her mother's, after having been neg- 
lected by the Church at Bridgeport, of which she was a member, 
for the space of five years, she received a call from one of the 
laiety, who offered her a letter to some other church ; and 
though it came at rather a late hour, after having been per- 
mitted to wander so long, she accepted it, supposing it would 
obtain admittance for her into any church with which she 
might choose to unite herself. At that time, however, she had 
not the least idea of ever wishing to leave the denomination to 
which she had been so long attached. 



30 BIOGRAPHY OK MRS. MKTTLER. 

Iii the following Autumn, ls4 1, Mr. Mettlertook his family 
out to liis father's in New-Jersey, where they remained through 
the Winter, or about six months. It was a very lonely place ; 
and Mrs. Met tier, mingling but little in society, had much time 
lei*t#n her hands for indulging the sad thoughts their mislor- 
tunes had awakened ; and, to use her own words, being com- 
pletely bowed down with trouble and anxiety, her heart was 
very much humbled 

During this Winter Mr. Mettler was in Philadelphia on busi- 
ness for his lather, which proved to be not merely unlucrative, 
but a bill of expense ; and, strange to say, once more, from a 
mistaken kindness, he left his wife to another long period of 
intense anxiety concerning his fate — a condition which many a 
true woman's heart will appreciate, when told that for more 
than two months she expected him every hour — almost every 
minute ; and all that time heard nothing. Every carriage that 
passed she imagined must have brought him — until at length, 
the continually disappointed hope fell upon her with all the 
heaviness of accumulated- sorrows ; and the heart-sickness she 
felt was sadder than that of death. But I will not anticipate. 

Little Joseph, the lame boy, suffered a great deal during 
this time ; and as her father's family was large, and her chil- 
dren troublesome, Mrs. Met tiers situation was trying in the 
extreme, not only for the severe labor, but for the anxiety, and 
sense of dependence, which it involved. The scenery around 
this place was very beautiful, if she could only have been free 
to enjoy it ; and under all disadvantages her never-dying love 
of Nature sometimes carried a balm to the heart, which else, 
might have broken, whenever she could steal out for a few 



LIFE IN NEW-JERSEY. 31 

minutes, to look in the face of her old Friend, and inhale the 
free breath of Heaven. 

In the month of January she went to a place called Head- 
Quarters to visit a sister of Mr. Mettler. Here the scenery 
was characterized by a kind of savage gloom. In a small val- 
ley about half a dozen houses, which, together with the grounds, 
had been left in a rough condition, were surrounded on all sides 
by a cluster of high hills. Just in front of the house where 
Mrs. Mettler stopped was a large frog-pond. Beyond that 
was a road between it and a rickety old grist-mill, which 
always had to work ; though its excruciating groans seemed 
to say that it was far from being able. It was at this time 
that Mrs. Mettler was expecting her husband so anxiously. 
For a while she found amusement during the week-days, see- 
ing the neighboring farmers and their wives drive up to the 
country store, which was, kept by her brother-in-law, in order 
to exchange the home, or farm products for goods — technically 
so called. 

At one time a group of these women surrounded a hogshead 
containing the granular deposite of molasses, or molasses-sugar, 
and gave themselves a treat. One of them would thrust a 
long stick into the semi-fluid substance, and draw it horizon- 
tally through her mouth, until she was satisfied with sweetness, 
then pass it to the next, and so on ; until some of them became 
so excited by the keen relish, that they could not wait for the 
stick to come round, and so dipped in their fingers. Does not 
this fact show that a certain taste is not strictly confined to 
Yankee-land ? But though there were other scenes quite as 
ludicrous, and some, indeed, really spicy, yet the novelty soon 



32 BIOGRAPHY OF Mies. MBTTLER. 

wore off. She was still a prey to the most corroding cares ; 
and the croaking Grogs, and the clanking old mill, made but a 
sorry accompaniment to her sad reflections. 

During the Sabbath, the loneliness seemed intolerable ; for 
from the character of the scenery, the quietness was not that 
of repose ; but the lea tares of the landscape were so harsh and 
rigid, that the stillness seemed rather to have been induced by 
some galvanic process, or paralytic influence, which had sub- 
dued without softening, and had left a haggard expression on 
the face of Nature, than the sweet calm of natural rest — there 
was an entire absence of all amenity, which, without grandeur, 
conveyed to the mind a savage impression. 

There was but one religious society at this place. A people 
called Dunkers, who in some respects resemble the Quakers, 
monopolized all the theological teaching of that small commu- 
nity, and the country for some distance around. Mrs. Mettler, 
on one occasion, attended a meeting of this kind. The congre- 
gation sat in silence ; for on that day no one was impressed to 
speak ; yet she felt that the Spirit they waited for, descended 
in the midst ; and there seemed a truer feeling of devotion than 
in any other church she had ever attended. It was so to her, 
doubtless, because her own spiritual affections were getting 
deeper and truer. The spiritual aspect of the external world — 
or the sentiment which it conveys to the soul — is but a reflex 
of our own minds. If heaven is wdthin us, its image will be 
projected on whatever we behold. 

And so the time wore heavily on. The gentle sufferer, dur- 
ing the day, dismissed, as far as possible, all the agonizing 
cares that w r ere already wearing out her young life, with the 



LIFE IN NEW-JERSEY. 33 

corrosive action of unalloyed suffering and disappointment ; but 
the long, cold, and dreary night claimed a fearful retribution 
from the quivering nerves and aching heart. 

She finished, at length, her visit of six weeks — which seemed 
more like six years — and returned to the house of her father- 
in-law ; but still no husband, and no tidings came. The Spring 
was now beginning to open ; and sometimes, oppressed with 
anguish which made the presence of any human being intoler- 
able, she would go out to a hill back of the house, where she 
could see the River Delaware, and hear the roaring of its wa- 
ters, that came softened through the distance. Many times in 
the night, when all was quiet, she would steal out to this favor- 
ite haunt, and, sitting down, think, and listen, until it seemed 
as if her soul would really take wings, and fiy away over the 
rippling waves, seeking if geradvent'ure rest or peace might be 
found any where - t but the darkly brooding raven gathered no 
sign of promise — the o'er-wearied dove brought back no olive- 
branch. 

Mr. Mettler did not return in several weeks after she went 
back to Alexandria ; and when at last he arrived, the event 
added to her sorrows, instead of diminishing them. She was 
indeed informed of his safety, and so far she was relieved ; but 
he had incurred the displeasure of both parents, by failing to 
negotiate satisfactorily the business with which he had been 
intrusted ; and they treated him with great coolness. If par- 
ticulars could be given, they would show that this alone was 
enough almost to break the heart of a true and affectionate 
wife ; for what is so trying as to see those we love treated 
unkindly — especially by those who, in the common course of 



34 BIOGRAPHY OF Mils. HETTLER. 

nature, should love and cherish them ! A generous woman 
can bear Suffering aud ill treatment in almost any decree, when 
Offered to herself alone ; but she feels the keenest anguish when 
^\w witnesses the Bufferings of clear ones, which she yet can 
not alleviate. 



CHAPTER VIII. 

CONVERSION TO UNIVERSALIS*!. 

They remained in New-Jersey about six weeks after this, 
when, with the very meager pittance which Mr. Alettler had 
earned, as he could, in small services about the farm, they again 
turned homeward. Mrs. Mettler went to her mother's in 
Bridgeport, while Mr. Mettler remained with his brother in 
New- York, hoping to get business. The poor afflicted wife and 
mother returned to her servile labor ; and for many weeks 
there appeared not a single ray of comfort any where, beyond 
what the simple consciousness of trying to do the best she 
could under the most trying circumstances, might afford All 
her reflections were of the most painful and discouraging kind. 
Her dependent position and the situation of her husband, with- 
out business for the present, or any assurance for the coming 
days, was a continual source of trouble. There was no depth 
of sorrow and anguish which did not seem to be hovering in 
the darkness of that miserable Future. The poor watcher 
could not yet see the angel wings, which, even then, were cleav- 
ing the serene atmosphere of the far distance ; for the rainbow, 



C0XYK.KS10N TO UNIVERSALIS*!. 35 

if it could have been visible, would have rested on mountains 
of sorrow and suffering, which yet lay between her weeping 
eyes and the clear sulishine. Often after her poor little babes 
were asleep, and the house was quite still, she would rise and 
walk the floor of the attic room where she slept, and weep 
until it would seem as if her heart must be stone, or it would 
all have dissolved itself in tears. In this way she passed many 
whole nights. Whichever way she looked for help, it was 
hedged up against her. She could not expect much, if any 
assistance from their immediate friends, because Mr. Mettler 
had received assistance from one of his, and one of her brothers, 
before going to Buffalo ; and as he had never been able entirely 
to discharge the bills, he could not ask for any further help 
from either of them. But finally his brother did let him have 
goods ; and in the following Autumn he opened a little store 
in Bridgeport. 

They took apartments in the house of Mrs. Beers ; and 
, though one room and a bedroom constituted their whole do- 
main, yet Mrs. Mettler felt, as she has told me, independent as 
a queen in her palace ; for she could walk her own floor, and 
again be at rest. 

They got along through the Winter very comfortably, Mr. 
Mettler's business, meanwhile, doing rather more than support 
the family in the humble way in which they lived. This state 
of peace continued until the latter part of Winter ; and then 
troubles were excited on account of Mr. Mettler's liberal relig- 
ious views. It had been agreed between him and his wife, that 
she should go to church with him a part of the time, and he a 
part of the time with her ; but as soon as she b gan to go to 



36 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLKK. 

the Universalis^ place of worship, her friends felt so bitterly 
in regard to it, that the spirit which they manifested not only 
disturbed her peace, but also affected her husband's business 
very unfavorably. Notwithstanding he kept a temperance 
store, many good temperance men were persuaded to go to 
other places in preference ; for it seems that in spite of all their 
zeal, they liked the smell of rum-holes better than the odor of 
a liberal Christianity. 

In September, 1842, and soon after being installed in her 
own apartments, Mrs. Mettler gave birth to a fourth child, 
another little daughter ; and thus her family was gradually 
enlarging its boundaries, and her cares were steadily multiply- 
ing ; but there was a great relief at hand. And though it 
was to come out of the direst struggle, yet as the subject now 
looks back on the pathway of time, she can see the foot-prints 
that once were stained with her heart's blood, now bear only 
the sweet impressions of mercy and loving kindness. At this 
period the mind of Mrs. Mettler began to acquire a greater 
expansion of its religious views. 

Some time in the month of December, 1842, there was a 
certain Sabbath, which, though its precise date is forgotten, 
will always be remembered as one of the great eras in her life ; 
for then she heard the first liberal sermon she had ever really 
listened to. It was delivered by the Rev. S. B. Brittan ; and 
its subject was the great and terrible Day of the Lord. This 
gave all her preconceived opinions such a thorough shaking, 
that the old Orthodoxy, from that day forward, never recov- 
ered its equilibrium. A new crisis was here projected on her 
interior life ; but the conflict wrought itself out with the sin- 



ALIENATION OF FRIENDS. 31 

gular determination and truthfulness of her character. She 
read all the evidence she could obtain on both sides of the 
question — studied, thought, and reasoned with her convictions, 
for three months ; and then, when her duty became apparent, 
she dared the terrors of an offended Church, the disapprobation 
of friends, and the desertion of her family, and united herself 
with the First Universalist Society of Bridgeport. But all 
these will come in at their due time and place. 



CHAPTER IX. 

ALIENATION OF FRIENDS. 

In the latter part of this Winter, Mrs. Mettler had much 
sickness in her family, her oldest daughter, Catharine, being 
for a long time ill ; and her sufferings and difficulties from this 
cause, were greatly enhanced by the coolness of her friends, and 
their decided disapprobation of her new religious views. 

In the Spring of 1843 they took a larger house ; while Mr. 
Mettler managed to make his business somewhat more produc- 
tive. The estrangement of her friends continued to increase ; 
and even her mother did not visit her in several months after 
she removed from her house. But in the following August, 
when the little lame boy, Joseph, was kicked by a horse, and 
it was feared that the better leg would be lamed for life, Mrs. 
Beers became so far softened as to visit her daughter ; but at 
the same time she gave her the exceedingly cold comfort of 
reflecting that the accident was a just judgment of God for her 



38 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MOTTLER. 

wicked heresy. However, it Beemfl that the judgment was 
revoked ; for by strict care and attention the poor little suf- 
ferer recovered. 

In the course of the Summer, Mrs. Mettler had quite a con- 
troversy with her friends in regard to the theological points 
which were at issue between them. This was maintained in a 
scries of letters between Mrs. Mettler and a sister. The stric- 
tures on the young heretic and her faith are very severe, though 
the blame was chiefly laid to the husband. Mrs. Mettler, in 
spite of all the abuses she met, sustained herself and her 
opinions very calmly, and very clearly. 

But it seems to. me that the worst features of the old Ortho- 
doxy never appeared so hideous and revolting, as they now do 
in these letters of the sister, which lie before me. And yet I 
can catch some faint gleams of a true kindness. They appear 
to have been called forth by a feeling of sincere love ; but the 
whole sphere, both of thought and affection, is so very circum- 
scribed, that, aside from the spirit and meaning of the text, 
there is a want of scope — a want of freedom — that absolutely 
pains me on the reading. It has reflected back the deformi- 
ties of the worn-out Faith in so glaring a light, invested with 
such hideous deformities, which are rendered grotesque by the 
most ridiculous absurdities, that I lay the letters down with 
astonishment, and ask if it can be possible that sane men and 
women — benevolent and kind-hearted men and women — living 
in a Christian country, could have believed such wrongful ab- 
surdities, or have invested their God with such a character ? 
These doctrines must inevitably either crush and destroy all 
true love, all natural affection, all free worship — or else they 



ALIENATION OF FRIENDS. 39 

must falsify themselves. And it has been the blessing of the 
world that they were not believed — that the faith in them was 
always shallow and unsound, and never, to any very considerable 
extent, sincere and radical. This might be shown by numer- 
ous facts ; but one is sufficient. In the momentous subject of 
everlasting punishment the orthodox Calvinisms own immediate 
personal friends almost always give some evidence of escape. 
It may be but a word, at the last moment, and after a vicious 
life — it may be but the lifting of a hand — a look — or even 
implication ; yet the devout Mends accept the evidence, and 
appear satisfied. Now they must either have become so unfeel- 
ing as to be utterly regardless of the most horrible conse- 
quences, or else they do not believe in the danger ; for no 
human heart, or mind, could be satisfied with so little to justify 
a reasonable hope. If the tortures of a year, a month, or even 
of one single hour, hung on such slender threads, would not the 
remotest possibility of the danger be sufficient to disturb one's 
peace ? Most certainly it would. It is in vain to plead one's 
piety, as a reason of submission and quietude under such cir- 
cumstances. There is no piety that can abrogate a law of Na- 
ture. Yes ; the doctrine is unsound to the core. It can not 
be believed. 

I can easily see how ignorant men should worship the moon, 
the sun, the stars, or any of the beautiful and benignant natu- 
ral forms. A tree would be an emblem of majesty and over- 
shadowing love ; and fire would be an embodiment of that 
divine energy, with which we naturally invest the great Parent 
of Life. I ban even see how men should bow themselves 
down to worship stocks and stones, and the work of their 



40 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTLER. 

own hands, because they might believe that some principle 
of Good had entered into their idol, and thus deified it. But 
I can not conceive how such a being as the Orthodox God 
■ — such a miserable compound of weakness and malignity — 
should elicit any other feelings in a mind naturally clear and 
liberal, than those of hatred and contempt. 

The Selfish Principle is the very basis of the old Dogma- 
tism. The whole machinery of the religion is marked by this 
trait. Look at the preaching. Repent ; and be saved. Be 
converted ; not because Goodness is good and lovely in itself 
— and should be loved for its own sake — but because if you do 
not, you will be Damned. A truly generous sentiment is sel- 
dom awakened ; and so long as the world remains selfish as it 
is, will it have its Incarnation of Almighty Selfishness, that 
claims to be worshiped as a God, in the character of a Demon. 

By this light we can see very clearly the point of the Infi- 
del's frequent charge against Christianity — that the benevo- 
lence and moral purity of its professors, bears an inverse pro- 
portion to their piety. But thank God this is not Christian- 
ity ; and the New will come out of the Old, and the True out 
of the False ; and all will yet be well. 

But to return to the letters. In Mrs. Mettler's reply I am 
struck, not only with the spirited tone of the response, but 
also with the ardroitness and capacity of the reasoning pow- 
ers, by which she maintained her ascendancy. She is never at 
a loss ; and her means of defense seem the best that could pos- 
sibly be chosen. And as this reflection comes upon me, I can 
see how a mind that accepts of a liberal doctrine — even though 
it may not be entirely true — becomes expanded and exalted by 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 41 

the generous idea. Mrs. Mettler, in embracing Universalisni, 
had not, as she then believed, reached the highest ideal of a 
Christian Faith ; nor would some of its dogmas which she so 
ingeniously defended, be at the present time endorsed by her. 
Let it here be distinctly understood that we do not reject the 
fundamental idea of Universalism— the Benevolence of God ; 
we only establish this great principle on a broader and firmer 
basis. The essential relations between Cause and Effect must 
always be preserved ; and therefore no man can be saved from 
his own sins — or from their effects — except through a radical 
change of heart and life — of affection, will, and deed, by devel- 
opment and progress. 



CHAPTER X. 

EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 

As time passed on, although Mrs. Mettler found herself en- 
tirely forsaken by her friends, yet she occasionally visited them. 
But whenever she did so, she was invariably assailed on the 
ground of her religious opinions ; and often both herself and- 
her faith were treated in the most abusive manner. Doubt- 
less these good friends were moved by a spirit of real kindness, 
hoping by their abundant chastising, not only to correct the 
offender, but to bring the wanderer back to the true fold. So 
strong was Semantha's affection for her friends that she bore 
these castigations for a long time. But often on her return 
from these visits, it was with a sickness of heart which bore 



42 BIOGBAPHI Of MRS. Mi iti.kk. 

down Dpon her with an irresistible conviction, that if aha would 
maintain any peace of life, she" must finally be compelled to 
forsake them, as they had forsaken her. Yet she found much 
comfort, not only in the new and beautiful hopes with which 
her loving spirit had been truly inspired, but in the society of 
friends of more liberal and congenial minds. 

The house into which they had removed was a double one ; 
and after haying lived in the north part two years they 
removed into the south part, which brings us to the Spring of 
1845. 

The leading tendencies of Mrs. Mettler were now soon to 
receive an entirely new impulse. Having heard much of the 
clear-seeing of Mr. Davis, who was then with Dr. Lyon at 
Bridgeport, she resolved, as a dernier resort, to take her little 
lame boy to him for an examination ; and accordingly, some time 
in the course of the Spring, this w T as done. She was impressed 
with the wonderful truthfulness of his delineation, but at the 
same time, being unable to account for it on any known prin- 
ciples, she, like many others, thought it was" very mysterious, 
but ascribed the power to an evil origin ; and this shows that 
she had not then come out of the slough of Orthodoxy so 
entirely as she thought. But while she presented the case in 
this milder form, her mother who accompanied her, boldly 
declared it was the work of the Devil. Yet this ill opinion 
did not hinder Mrs. Mettler from investigation. She was still 
impelled to inquire — to know. But how little did she imagine, 
while studying into these principles, that her mission upon 
Earth was chiefly to unfold and illustrate them. And yet, who 
can tell but it was the stirring of the angel, which yet lay so 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 43 

deeply hidden, that inspired the interest, suggested the inquiry, 
and prompted the study ? T)ur interior impressions are, as 
yet, full of mystery, and we can not clearly trace themj but 
often, I believe, when apparently accidental or trivial causes 
lead to great and important results, if we would analyze our- 
selves more carefully, we should discover a predetermination 
of thought, feeling, or interest in the given direction, which 
clearly indicates an over-presiding Intelligence, Will, or De- 
sign. 

About this time the Church, which had entirely neg- 
lected Mrs. Mettler ever since her return from the West — not 
one of its members having visited her for a period of three 
years — began to look after the stray lamb. Toward the last 
of May, however, she received a visit from Mr. Hunter, the 
Pastor, and Deacon Sherwood ; when the conversation occurred 
which is given below, as it was originally published in the New- 
York Christian Messenger : 

Deacon Sherwood. — We have called, Mrs. Mettler, to see why you 
absent yourself from public worship with us. 

Mrs. Mettler. — I have not considered myself a member of your 
Church, from a letter received from you some three years since. 

Mr. Hunter. — You could not consider yourself freed from our 
church by such a letter as that. 

M. — I think the letter read something like holding me under your 
care and keeping for either six or nine months ; but I have unfortu- 
nately lost it. 

H. — It could not have read thus, because we never give a letter in 
that way. 

M. — I thought the letter freed me from your church, or I should 
have tendered my resignation long before this. 



44 BIOGRAPHY 01 MRS. MKTTI.KR. 

II. — You might just as well talk of sending a letter of resignation 
to your husband. 

M. — Do you eonsider me as closely bound to the ehureh as to my 
husband? 

II. — Certainly you are. 

M. — If such is the case, it is a new doctrine to me. 

II. — When you united with the church, you was bound to it until 
death separated you from it. 

S. — If you had considered yourself a member, you could not have 
united with us in public worship, for 1 believe you have embraced 
the Universal doctrine. 

31. — I have, believing it to be the truth of the Bible. 

H. — I know not how you could embrace Universalism, believing 
it to be the truth of the Bible, for I have studied the Bible for many 
years, and could not see the shadow of it there. 

M. — We are not all constituted alike. I find nothing but Univer- 
salism there. 

H. — Universalists have no rules and regulations — no creed ; and 
do not believe in the Divinity of Christ ; and they also deny the true 
character of God. 

M— If such is the case, it is news to me ! We do not, it is true, 
believe in the creeds of men, but we take the Scriptures for our creed 
— the best and surest of all creeds. 

H. — I, also, take the Bible for my creed. 

M. — Sir, do you find all the articles of your faith in the Bible ? 

H.— Yes, I do. 

M. — If they are in the Bible, I have not yet been able to discover 
them. 

H.— Perhaps you read your Bible as all other Universalists do — 
with a wrong understanding. 

M. — If such is the case, it is my misfortune, and I am rather to be 
pitied than condemned. 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 45 

H. — We have not called to condemn you for your faith, but 
through the appointment of a committee, to see if you wished to be 
considered a member of our church any longer. 

M. — If I am regarded by you as a member, I wish to be considered 
bo no longer, for I do not believe your doctrine. 

H. — Does your faith comfort you ? 

M. — It truly has done, thus far in life, and I am sure it will in my 
dying hour. 

H. — I hope it will, but I am afraid you will wake up in eternity 
with disappointed hopes. 

M. — I have all faith to believe that my doctrine will prove itself 
true, as to myself, and also all the rest of mankind. 

S. — I have a few words to say, Mr. Hunter, although it is going 
to clash a little with what you have just uttered. If I understood 
you, you said you hoped Mrs. Mettler's doctrine would sustain her in 
her dying hour ; but I don't, nor can't hope so, for I believe it to be 
a lie ! 

M. — If the hope of meeting all our dear friends and connections, 
together with the whole human family, in heaven, will not sustain us 
in the dying hour, I know of no hope that will. 

H. — St. Paul tells us, that if in this life only we have hope, we are 
of all men most miserable. 

M. — We should be, indeed, if in this life only, we had hope. But 
St. Paul also tells us to have hope in God, of the resurrection, both 
of the just and unjust. 

H. — Do you believe that we receive our full reward of punishment 
in this life? There appears to be a great difference of opinion 
among Universalists on this point. 

M. — I believe we shall be fully punished for the deeds done in the 
body. As to what takes place between death and the resurrection, I 
know not ; and I think it will be difficult for you to inform me. St. 
Paul, however, tells us that in the resurrection, we shall be raised 



46 blOOKAl'HV OF UB&. MWTl.hK. 

incorruptible, pure, holy and happy beings; t liuL we shall all be 
changed, in a moment, in the twinkling of an eye. 

11. — iiut the idea of the Univcrsalisi IS — the reward of all men i3 
the same in heaveu. Fur instanee, here is a uiuu who has led a 
righteous and sober life, aud bore all the persecutions of a Christian ; 
and here is another who has passed through life in ali the pleasures 
and wickedness of this world— the reward, in eternity, is the same. 

31. — 1 believe, sir, that we are amply rewarded for our good, as 
well as evil deeds through life. And now, allow me a single question 
— would you, sir, as a minister of the gospel (if sueh you preach) 
with all the comfort and consolation w r hich that gospel atlbrds, would 
you, sir, exchange situations with the poor, degraded sinner who 
walks the streets ? 

H. — No, I would not. 

M. — Do you not think you are amply rewarded from the hand of 
our Father, for all the good deeds of your life ? 

H. — I do, for we can not, of ourselves, merit any thing — it is" all 
the gilt of God. 

M. — Then, sir, why do you preachy doctrine, that through repent- 
ance we merit heaven ? If I understand you right, you consider sin 
as a pleasure. I wish to know, sir, if sin is really a pleasure ? 

H. — It is no pleasure to the righteous man, but many enter into it 
as though it were a very great pleasure. 

M. — I have often heard the remark that we could " roll sin under 
the tongue as a sweet morsel ; " but I believe that in the depths of 
sin, we are certain to hud a canker worm, and that it is sure to 
poison. 

S. — An idea has just come into my head, which I must now tell, 
for fear I may forget it ; for I am an old man and rather forgetful. 
It is this — w T hen I was first married I had a brother, or rather a half 
brother it was. And it so happened that Mrs. Sherwood had a 
brother, too ; and they were both Universal ists. We used to visit 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHUKCH. 4t 

them often, and talk with them, and pray for them ; we used to feel 
very anxious about them, although they were both nice men — there 
was no fault in them. But finally on conversing with them we found 
they were becoming infidels, and finally they became confirmed infi- 
dels. And I believe they all will finally become infidels, atheists or 
deists. 

M. — I do not believe that any person who seriously believes the 
doctrine, and fully enters into its enjoyments, and is faithful to it, 
can ever become an infidel. 

S. — I believe they can, for we have an instance here before us ! 

M. — I thank you, sir, for your good opinion ; but desire you to 
understand that I do not consider myself an " infidel, atheist or deist." 

S. — If you are not now, you soon will be. 

M. — When I become one, I can call and let you know, sir." 

S. — But I may be dead and in my grave. 

M. — Then, sir, you will not care to know it. But I have em- 
braced the doctrine of Universalism, believing in, and loving God, 
because he first loved me, and I am daily led to rejoice in the conso- 
lation and comfort which this love affords ; and I can truly say, that 
since I have been old enough to know what religion was, I have not 
enjoyed such peace of mind as since I have embraced Universalism ; 
and I believe it will ever comfort me, and all who are so fortunate as 
to- embrace it. 

H. — I am happy to see that you appear to have a devotion and 
love for God, and have so many very good ideas of the Scriptures ; 
and I hope you will continue faithful in your duty to God. If you 
believe in Universalism, it is your privilege to enjoy it. But I can 
not help but fear that you are in a great error. 

S. — I do not really think she enjoys herself so much in her relig- 
ious views, as she pretends. 

M. — You are at perfect liberty to think so, but that does not alter 
the fact. 



48 BIOGKAPHY Of MRS. MKTTLER. 

S. — You seem to have become very wise in the short time you 
have embraced the doctrine! 

M. — What wisdom 1 have, I am thankful to Uod for, and I pray 
daily to my Heavenly Father that 1 may become more wia 

H. — 1 am of opinion that you will soon cease to pray, and become 
careless and neglectful of your duty ; or else you will return again to 
your old belief. 

M. — With the assistance of my Heavenly Father, I do not think I 
shall ever forget him, while 1 have lips to praise his holy name. 
My religion comforts me, and 1 am therefore happy. And I believe 
I shall ever remain in my present belief, firm and steadfast. 

H. — Speaking- of the joy and peace which your present belief 
affords you, reminds me of an incident in my own life, and which I 
should probably never have thought of again. It occurred when I 
was a student. I was nearly worn out with latigue through my 
studies and concluded to make a visit home. On reaching it, 1 found 
my father and mother both sick. 1, also, was taken down, and 
remained quite sick for a w 7 eek or more. When I began to recover, 
I commenced reading the 4th chapter of Romans, and there I thought 
I saw the doctrine of Universalism. I read the 5th chapter, and 
then I thought I saw it still plainer ; and I continued on reading, 
through the whole epistle, and rose from it convinced that Universal- 
ism w r as the truth of the Bible. I was the happiest person in exist- 
ence. I went out of doors, and all nature was changed ; everything 
seemed to speak of joy and happiness ; and I thought to myself 
what a happy result it will be when mankind are raised from the 
dead, pure, holy and happy ! It was the happiest hour of my life ! 
But I finally concluded it was the vain delusion of the devil ! 

M. — That, sir, was your true conversion from darkness to light. 

H. — Well, I believe the controversy is now r ended. You seem de- 
termined to continue in your present belief, and we shall have to pro- 
ceed according to the rules and regulations of the church. 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHUKOH. 49 

M. — If you still consider me a member, I am willing you should 
proceed as soon as you see fit. 

H. — (On rising to leave,) I hope you will not think we are the only 
denomination who oppose Universalism in this way ; but that all 
denominations do the same. 

M. — Mr. Hunter, there's where you lack charity. We have ever 
been persecuted, since the Savior came upon earth to preach his gos- 
pel. But the time is not far distant, when we shall cease to be per- 
secuted, for the whole world is embracing the doctrine as fast as 
time can roll it on ! 

The visitors hereupon withdrew. Mrs. Mettler finding that 
they considered her new faith a heresy, and might excommuni- 
cate her on that ground, but hoping still to obtain a letter of 
dismissal, through which she might join any other church, 
presented her views in the following letter. 

To the Pastor, Brothers and Sisters, of the North Congregational 

Church, Bridgeport, Ct. : 

Having received a visit from your Pastor and deacon Sherwood, I 
was informed by them that I was still considered as a member of 
your church, and under its care and protection, and they had called 
to see why I had absented myself from public worship with them. 
I informed them that I did not agree with them in their belief, but 
that I had embraced the doctrine of Universalism, believing it to be 
the gospel, also the true doctrine of the Bible. I was then informed 
that the church considered it as a pernicious error, and that they 
should have to abide by the rules and regulations of the church, 
which I suppose will be to excommunicate me for what they term 
heresy. But before being dismissed by you, as an heretic, I wish to 
express to you my firm belief, and also to appeal to your own hearts 
and consciences to answer me, whether the doctrine I have embraced 
is so strongly tainted with heresy as you may have imagined, I 

3 



50 BIOGRAPHY OF UBS. MSTTLEB. 

have embraced the doctrine pf Universalism because my Bible, my 
conscience, and all nature declare it to be true. J disbelieve your 
doctrine because L believe it to be erroneous, unscriptura] and incon- 
sistent, both with revelation and with the character of God. I 
believe Him to be, as he is declared, the Savior of all men, and the 
Redeemer of this lost and ruined world. I believe he is good unto 
all, and his tender mercies are over all his works ; and he also sends 
his rain upon the just and the unjust. And if he is an unchangeable 
being he will ever remain the same good and merciful being. And I 
believe that he, according to his purpose, will finally bring all men 
in humble subjection unto him ; and 1 am daily led to rejoice that he 
has so far made known unto us the mystery of his will, that in the 
dispensation of the fullness of limes, he will gather together in one 
all things in Christ, both which are in heaven and on earth, even in 
him. Therefore to gather all in Christ, is to make them new crea- 
tures, to save them from sin and render them pure, holy and happy, 
I believe that he is an impartial God, and to manifest his love for us, 
he sent his only Son into the world ; and that while we were yet sin- 
ners Christ died for us. Yes, God loved us while we were yet sin- 
ners, and, as a manifestation of his love, he sent his Son to die that all 
might live. • 

Oh ! how different is the love of God from that of erring man. 
Man loves a part, and is good unto a part, but God loves all and is 
the Father of all, and is good unto all, and will save all. He has 
freely given up his only begotten and well beloved Son to die for our 
j ust i heat ion, so that being now justified by his blood, we shall be 
saved from wrath through him ; for if when we were enemies w r e 
were reconciled to God by the death of his Son, much more, being 
reconciled we shall be saved by his life. And we may most truly 
exclaim, oh ! the depths of the riches, and goodness, and love of God ; 
thanks be to him for the exceeding riches of his grace and his kind- 
ness toward us, through Jesus Christ our Lord. 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 51 

You believe me to be in error because I believe him to be the 
Savior of my poor fellow beings as well as myself. Such is my firm 
hope in God, and the assurance I have in him that I can look for- 
ward to that blessed state of immortality where all shall be freed 
from sin, sorrow and trouble. And with St. Paul, I have a firm hope 
in God, that there shall be a resurrection of the just and the unjust. 
Believing, as I do, in the attributes, that all Christians and his holy 
word ascribe to Him, it is impossible for me to believe in any other 
result of the divine government, than the universal bliss, joy and hap- 
piness of the whole human family. 

If the views which I have here set forth are considered heresy, 
and inconsistent with the character of God, and his revelation, then 
it will perhaps be thought just by you to expel me as a heretic. 
But blessed be the hope and consolation, that we have a wise, just 
and merciful Father to rule over us, who will not judge us unright- 
eously. And if I am condemned and persecuted by those whom I 
consider my brothers and sisters, it will hurt me not in the eyes of 
Him who is ever mindful and watchful over us. When you pray, 
remember to say " Our Father ! " I still love you all as christian 
friends ; and if we can not be united in sentiment While in this mortal 
existence, I can most firmly look forward to that blessed state of im- 
mortality where we shall all unite in one hymn of praise to God the 
Father of all ! 

I remain yours, in the fraternal bonds of the Gospel, 

Semantha Mettler. 

After considerable discussion the lettef was refused a read- 
ing, and shortly after, Mrs. Mettler received the following cita- 
tion to appear before the church. 

Bridgeport, July 1, 1844. 
Mrs. Semantha Mettler : Madam — You are hereby requested to 
appear before the Church, under the pastoral care of Rev. Mr. Hun- 



52 BIOGRAPHY OF MKS. ICfiTTLEB. 

tor, l-Uli of July instant, at the close of public worship, P. M., in the 
meeting house of said church, to answer to the charge of absence 

from public worship and the communion of said church, all of which 

arc contrary to covenant obligations, and require our immediate 

investigation. By order of the church, 

Samuel Beach, Clerk. 

The proceedings of the church are given as they were dic- 
tated from memory, by Mrs. Mettler, and afterward published 
in the Christian Messenger : 

I appeared there at the appointed time, and was very politely 
asked to take a seat, by Deacon Sterling. After a goodly number 
of members had assembled and taken their seats, Mr. Hunter the 
Moderator, arose and said, " As Mrs. Mettler has appeared, we will 
now proceed to trial." Mr. Backus was then appointed clerk pro 
tern. 

Deacon Sterling arose and called for the reading of the citation. 
Deacon Sherwood said he believed that they had no copy of it there, 
and it made no difference. Deacou Sterling insisted that it made a 
very great difference. He wanted to know what she was cited there 
for. She might be cited under a great many charges, for all he 
knew ; and for one, he wanted to know what they were. Deacon 
Sherwood said he had given the Clerk instructions what to write 
and it was all correct. But Deacon Sterling still insisted that it was 
not all right, because he wanted to know what Mrs. Mettler was 
cited there for, and it was of very great importance to* him. Turning 
to me he asked if I had the citation with me. I replied in the 
affirmative. He then observed to the rest, perhaps I would let them 
take it ; but Mr. Hunter arose and said it made no very great differ- 
ence whether they had a copy or not, as they well knew what they 
had instructed the clerk to write ; and it was for non-attendance on 
public worship with them, and that Mr. Sterling was out of order in 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 53 

urging it to be read. They now desired to know whether I was 
guilty of that charge, to which I answered yes. Deacon Sterling 
said it was my privilege to have counsel if I chose ; and they voted 
me counsel, but I declined it. 

I was then asked my reasons for absenting myself from their pub- 
lic worship. I replied that I had once given my reasons to Mr. 
Hunter and Deacon Sherwood, and since then had written a letter, 
requesting Mr. Hunter to read it before the church and congrega- 
tion, that they might know what my views were, before dismissing 
me as a heretic ; and as the letter had not been read, it was my 
request that it should be read now, for the satisfaction of those 
present. 

Mr. Hunter said they had examined my letter, and that they could 
not, nor did not wish to excommunicate me as a heretic, for that 
was not the charge. 

Deacon Sterling also observed that the charge was simply absent- 
ing myself from public worship with them, and he saw no cause for 
excommunication ; there was no charge brought against my charac- 
ter, and I had committed no crime against the church, but had sim- 
ply followed the dictates of my own conscience which was the privi- 
lege of all in this free country. And, continued Deacon S., I thank 
God that it is so ; I see no reason why she should not simply be dis- 
missed from the church, honorably, if she does not wish to be consid- 
ered a member of it any longer. 

Mr. Hunter then asked if I wished to be considered a member any 
longer. I told him I did not ; but as I had committed no crime, and 
as my character, according to their representation was unimpeacha- 
ble, they ought to give me a letter of dismissal from the church. 
This, said Mr. H., could not be granted, for if they gave a letter, it 
must be accompanied with a recommendation, and that they could 
not do, because they did not consider themselves in fellowship with 
the denomination of Universalists. 



54 BIOGRAPHY OF KR& mkiti.KK. 

Deacon Sherwood said he had just been reading over the old rule 
and understood il perfectly well — to excommunicate the old way, 

and he should go lor that, and there was no use of Baying so much 
about it, for that was just the way to do it, lor 1 had embraced the 
Universal faith. 

Deacon Sterling observed that St. Paul tells us without charity 
we are nothing, and he should not vote for excommunication, for he 
did not like the term, but would simply erase my name from the 
church record — that is, withdraw our watch and care over her as a 
church member. 

Deacon Sherwood thought that Deacon Sterling seemed to express 
a great deal of charity and a great deal more love for me than he had 
ever done belore. 

Deacon Sherwood thought it was right to excommunicate. In 
days of yore, when he was a boy, they used to excommunicate, and 
did not think of using any other term, but now-a-days it is not 
thought quite nice enough to excommunicate, but they must employ 
the term " withdraw- their watch and care." 

Deacon Sterling moved that they give a Letter of Dismissal, which 
was seconded by one of the members, which immediately threw every 
thing into controversy and discord. 

Mr. Keppin got up and said there seemed to be a great deal of 
unnecessary time spent in this matter. I had committed one of the 
greatest crimes against the church, that I could commit, and if it 
was one of his children, he would think it just and right to excom- 
municate it. He should not hesitate to declare that J had committed 
one of the grossest crimes by embracing the doctrine of Universalis!!) ; 
as also in not living up to the rules of the church covenant. It was 
high time, said he, that the church took these things in hand, for I 
entered into full church covenant before God and man. and now had 
violated that obligation. And further, said Mr. K., by their fruits ye 
shall know them. It is one of the greatest trials this church has 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 55 

ever been called to witness, and he thought it no more than just and 
right to excommunicate me. 

Daniel Sterling arose, and said he wished only to detain them a 
few moments to express his opinion in the matter ; said he was an 
old man, and had traveled and seen a good deal of the world, and Mr. 
Kippen had just said, " by their fruits ye shall know them." He 
thought this all wrong, for he had been in Universalist churches in 
Boston, and Catholics, and all kinds, and found among them all, as 
good Christians as will any where be-found ; and for us to stand 
here, said he, and think that we are so much better than they, is all 
wrong, for we are indebted for our religion to the Catholics, which 
the Moderator well knows ; and for us to talk about withdrawing 
our watch and care from any one is absurd. We must not do it. 
You might just as well talk about your son, if he did not obey you, 
or think as you did, that you must not look after him any more. It 
is perfectly ridiculous for us to talk so. If we see a man down in the 
street, drunk, it is our first duty to help him up, and watch over him, 
instead of withdrawing our watch and care from him. We are no 
better than we should be. We must try and do better, and do right ; 
that is the way. As for the term Excommunicate, he should not vote 
for it. He never had, nor never would. 

Mr. Kippen replied that it was the duty of the church to watch 
over their members, but I had violated the covenant with the church, 
and the proper course was to excommunicate. 

I arose and remarked, that I had been in the place since my return, 
nearly three years, and during that time had not received a visit from 
any of the deacons, nor the pastor until recently. 

Deacon Sterling said he, for one, plead guilty to the charge — he 
had not done his duty. 

Legrand Sterling followed, and said he could not see any reason 
why I should not go out of the same door I came in at. 

Deacon Sterling remarked that when a minister was installed there 



&Q BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. KETTLES. 

was a great time over it — oftentimes a great feast was prepared. 
Bat on a discharge for misconduct, iy ever heard of it. He 

could not see why the rule Bhould not work as well with a church 
member, as a minister, add for bis part be should insist that my 
name should simply be erased from the church record, and lie should 
never vote for excommunication, as be had Btated before. 

Deacon Sherwood jumped.- up again apparently in a great rage — 
Sir, here is Capt. Daniel Sterling, be has a son who is a disobedient, 
unruly fellow, and he feels in bis own mind determined to get rid of 
him, and turn him out of his house ; that he will no longer take care 
of him or watch over him. It does not matter which way he goes 
out, whether out of the front door, or back door, or window, he must 
go out some way or other ; and that is just the case with the cul- 
prit before us, (myself,) she has gone contrary to the rules of the 
church, and she has got to leave it. 

Deacon Sterling replied, that they had no power to turn me out, 
for I had already turned myself out ; and he, as a neighbor, thought 
much of my husband and myself, and ever should m h and also as 
brothers and sisters, for we have all one Father, and were all aiming 
for one home, which home he hoped I should obtain, in the faith 1 
had embraced. 

Mr. Sellick was astonished that there was so much ignorance man- 
ifested upon the terms they should employ in my case. As for the 
friendship of neighbors, that should ever be sustained, and the help- 
ing hand should ever be reached out ; and for his part he felt much 
for the beloved sister now before them, and he had often prayed and 
wept with an aching heart, that I might be brought back to the fold 
again. When I entered into the church, he said, I entered into its 
full obligation, and w r as to abide by its rules, and to sustain its creed ; 
and I once believed that those that believe shall be saved, and those 
that believe not shall be damned. I now denied that doctrine, and 
they in accordance with their covenant obligations to me had called 



EXPULSION FROM THE CHURCH. 5*1 

me before them to perform their duty with me, and it was just and 
right that I should be excommunicated according to the rules of the 
church. 

Mr. Hunter then arose and called them to order, and stated that I 
was not cited before them to answer to any particular doctrine I had 
embraced, but that I was arraigned before them for violating the 
covenant obligations, and they must proceed with their business or 
they would not get through by night. 

I arose and said there seemed to be a great contention concerning 
the term which they should employ in my case, but it mattered not 
to me which term they employed. Some smart young man, back by 
the door, bellowed out — " Excommunicate her I" They put the ques- 
tion, and I was excommunicated by a vote of four or live, but it was 
not stated for what. 

I was then desired to withdraw, as they had some further business to 
bring up. On rising to go, they were about asking some further 
questions, when Mr. Mettler said, " I believe, sir, you have no further 
claim on my wife, as you have just finished voting, and excommuni- 
cated her." 

After Mr. Mettler and myself had left, they arraigned Capt. Ster- 
ling, and also Deacon Sterling, for trial, because of their liberality in 
advocating my cause, as I learned from Capt. Sterling a short time 
afterward. p • . 

I shall ever feel under great obligations to Deacon Sterling, as also 
Capt. Daniel Sterling, for their gentlemanly conduct towards me, 
and the liberality with which they defended the great and impartial 
goodness of our Heavenly Father. Semantha Mettler. 

I have inserted the papers entire, that they may be preserved 
as a matter of history ; for will it be credible a few years 
hence, that the Christ ian Church, as a body, are now but just 
beginning to emerge from such gross darkness ? I trust not. 



58 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTI.KR. 

This trial affected Mrs. Mettler's mother to such a degree that 
she not only left the Church, bul renounced its principles; 
though she would never acknowledge it was for that cause. 



CHAPTER XI. 

THE MISSION FORESHADOWED. 

Some time in the month of August or September following, 
Mrs. Mettler attended a pic nic of the Universalist Society, 
and from over exertion, or some other cause, on her return ^\\e 
became quite ill. She sent for Dr. Lyon, who came, accompa- 
nied by Mr. Davis. After examining the patient Mr. Davis 
announced the fact that she was possessed of very remarkable 
clairvoyant powers for the discernment and cure of disease, 
saying in the same connection, that it would require a great 
length of time to magnetize her. He also said that there were 
other faculties to be developed by magnetism, which would be 
of great benefit to the world. Here was a prophecy that 
moved at once all the great springs of her character ; and to 
this hope of usefulness she surrendered herself, with all the 
ardor and determination which had hitherto distinguished her, 
but which were now to have their severest trial. 

Long and painful was the process ; vet she was sustained 
by the bare possibility of achieving good, for no less a term 
than three years — during which she must have been magnet- 
ized at least five hundred times ! What wonderful faith and 



MISSION FORESHADOWED. 59 

perseverance. Only think of it ! What a sublime determina- 
tion to achieve the unwilling victory ! Think of all the diffi- 
culties she must have had to encounter — the spirit of the times, 
when very few r persons would countenance any faith in magnetic 
clairvoyance, even if they accepted the minor phenomena — the 
many and bitter disappointments continually repeated — the 
inability to defend her own positions by one encouraging fact 
— the objection of friends — the cavil of neighbors and acquaint- 
ances — the scorn of brethren and sisters in the church — and, 
through all these, the heart-sickness which must often have 
nearly overcome her. In this light her determination becomes 
one of the most wonderful phenomena, ever wrought out by 
human Will and Conscience, in their closest and most power- 
ful conjunction. The Seven Labors of Hercules shrink into 
insignificance, compared with this One great work of Love, in 
the purity, beauty, and strength of its most subtile essence. 

Nor is this all mere empty speculation ; for it is sustained 
by the most startling facts. In addition to the alienation of 
friends, and the loss of her former social influence and position, 
Mrs. Mettler could only look forw r ard to the disheartening pros- 
pect of almost hopeless poverty, which w r as too truly shadowed 
forth in the bitter sufferings of the present. When we look at 
the mother surrounded by her five children, whose very hunger 
she could not always have the means of appeasing, and see her 
devoting herself so determinedly to a remote, and at best, un- 
certain good, her resolution becomes in itself truly miraculous ; 
and we can only believe that she was continually inspired, and 
sustained, by a super-sensuous Spirit, Will, and Power. 

Toward the latter part of the year 1845 Mr. Mettler's busi- 



60 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKITLKR. 

ness began to suffer very seriously* Many were so conscien- 
tious that they could not trade with a [Jiiiversalist ; and this 
spirit finally ruined it. Once more he became unable to pay 
his creditors, as he desired ; and he was driven to means of 
extricating himself, which were to his wile a great source of 
trouble. By his solicitation several friends came forward, and 
endorsed for him. As yet he has been unable to discharge all 
these debts ; yet he does not seek to invalidate them ; and he 
is looking forward to the time when they may all be honestly 
paid. 

After leaving this business, in the Spring of 1846, Mr. Met- 
tier was once more destitute of employment and as the land- 
lords knew his situation, it was with extreme difficulty that 
they could obtain a tenement to live in ; but after a long and 
anxious search they had the good fortune to obtain a humble 
dwelling on Water-street. Soon after, Mr. Mettler obtained 
the situation of clerk in a foundry with a salary of four hun- 
dred dollars to support a wife and five children. But by a rigid 
economy, aided by what little Mrs. Mettler herself could do, 
they got through the year with tolerable comfort. It should 
be here remembered that with all her cares, anxieties, and 
troubles, Mrs. Mettler attended strictly to the process of unfold- 
ing her powers, being magnetized daily, though still without 
any apparent progress. 

The house on Water-street was so very miserable that they 
could not have endured to live there in very cold weather ; and 
after having remained there three months, they once more 
removed to a house on Main-street. And here were to be 
unfolded the most severe trials. 



MISSION FORESHADOWED. 61 

At the end of six months after the last remove, Mr. Mettler 
was again thrown out of business, his employer having obtained 
a man to do for three hundred a year, the work for which he 
had received four hundred. 

The landlord was not only a penurious man but exceedingly 
small and mean in all his dealings ; and wiien Mr. Mettler was 
deprived of business, he warned them out — not because he had 
not received his pay, but because he was afraid he should not 
for the future be so fortunate. But the warning came too late ; 
and finally, with a very ill grace, he consented to let them 
remain another year. This was the darkest period of Mrs. 
Mettler's life. The winter of 1846 and 7 opened on this deso- 
late and long-suffering family, without business, hope of busi- 
ness, or any resources whatever ; and they would not have 
been able to live at all, had not the Fraternity of Odd 
Fellows, to which Mr. Mettler belonged, given him employ- 
ment as a watcher, and nurse for the sick. He watched when- 
ever he could find employment of that kind— sometimes for one 
dollar — at others a dollar and twenty-five cents a night. Mrs. 
Mettler also turned herself to various kinds of work ; and with 
her five little children to take care of, took in washing, and 
whatever other work she might find to do. But in spite of all 
the exertions that could be made, they sometimes were so 
reduced as to be without even a crust of bread, or a coal. 
One morning which Mrs. Mettler remembers well, she divided 
what little bread she had in shares, reserving none for herself. 
Mr. Mettler, who did not know this, had taken his, and gone 
out, and the children also had eaten their pittance, and gone 
to school. Go now, in idea, if you can, to that poor famished 



62 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTLER. 

mother, as she sat with her little babe, alone, shivering and 
hungry ! What must hare been her reflections for the present 

— her prospect for the future ! What agonizing- thoughts ! 
what bitter feelings must have oppressed her ! what sad com- 
parisons between the days oi free and happy girlhood, or the first 
bright and hopeful years of her early married life, and the ter- 
rible truth of the present I What hights — what depths — what 
a wide expansion of unmitigated darkness. Thus she brooded 
over her misfortunes in the cold silence, 

" Until it seemed 
That there was less of utter misery 
In the wide world, than in her single heart." 

But they who walk thus the thorny paths of poverty, some- 
times are permitted to gather the sweetest blossoms of that 
rare human charity, whose essence is universal love. Beauti- 
ful is the sympathy — wonderful the generosity — which the 
poor often manifest toward each other ! Such an instance was 
found in the coal-man, who, when Priest and Levite passed by 
on the other side, although this poor family were nearly perish- 
ing with cold, purchased a small quantity of coal on his own 
responsibility, and thus preserved them from suffering, until 
other sources of relief were opened. 

In the month of May of this year, Mrs. Mettler received a 
letter from one of her brothers, urging her to separate from 
her husband, and promising to provide for herself and her little 
girls. It is almost unnecessary to say, that so true and loving 
a heart rejected the proposition, with a strong will to suffer 
with, and for her dear companion, but never voluntarily to sep- 



CLAIRVOYANCE DEVELOPED. 63 

arate herself from him. Yolumes of agonizing thought, feel- 
ing, and absolute physical suffering, could be wrought out of 
the trials of that one year ; but the seeds that were sown in 
darkness are now unfolding their rich fruits of beauty and love ; 
and how much fairer is her spirit for having known them. 



CHAPTER XII. 

CLAIRVOYANCE DEVELOPED. 

At the end of the year, or in the Spring of 1848, Mr. Met- 
tler was again warned out ; but he could not find a house until 
some time in June ; and then he removed to a very comfort- 
able dwelling in Division-street. The next week after, a note 
was received from one of Mrs. Met tier's brothors, saying that 
Mr. Mettler's old employer had a place for him in New- York. 

He remained in this clerkship nearly a year, and was look- 
ing forward to a still more lucrative position, when he met 
with an accident which, for the time, frustrated all his hopes ; 
though it brought forward the exciting cause of Mrs. Mettler's 
final development. 

When about to visit home, on coming to the steamer, a 
plank being put out for him to £et on board, he stepped on the 
corner of it, fell, and split his ankle bone, which laid him up 
for three months. Mrs. Mettler was expecting him, and had 
been all the morning very happy, making preparations for his 
return. Judge of her feelings when she saw her husband 



64 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER. 

brought into the yard, and knew that some dreadful accident 
had befallen him 1 

At this time, again, the family must have suffered, had it 
not been for the kindness of his employer, who, by the contri- 
bution of friends, made out a considerable sum, which was 
kindly presented, and applied to his relief. 

But with all this trouble flowed in an unexpected blessing. 
Mr. Henry Gordon, a since quite celebrated clairvoyant prac- 
titioner, was called in to attend Mr. Mettler ; and while in 
the abnormal state Mrs. Mettler asked him if there were any 
means of inducing a deeper sleep than she had yet been 
able to attain. He immediately replied, " Yes ; and I can 
do it." 

This declaration was rather startling ; for although in the 
early part of the time Mrs. Mettler had followed up the mag- 
netism with a great deal of faith and perseverance ; yet after 
trying so long, without making any apparent progress, she had 
become discouraged. For a considerable period immediately 
preceding this, she had not made any efforts to become what 
she must still have had a fixed presentiment of yet being. 
Joyfully, then, she submitted herself to the spiritual direction 
of Mr. Gordon. 

As he spoke he took her hand ; and in the space of a few 
minutes, affected her more than she had been in the whole 
three years. 

Mr. Gordon's visit continued for three weeks ; and each 
time when, he had finished with her husband, he would magnet- 
ize Mrs. Mettler, being himself in the magnetic state. She 
soon began to see what her magnetizer saw ; but the external 



CLAIRVOYANCE DEVELOPED. 65 

senses not being entirely closed, she was partially conscious of 
what was going on around her. 

When Mr. Gordon left her, he gave directions for the mag- 
netizing process to be continued ; and, as Mr. Mettler's health 
would not then permit him to take charge of her, he appointed 
Mr. Mallory, of Bridgeport, as his successor ; who, kindly 
accepting the appointment, visited her daily for that purpose. 
After Mr. Mallory had magnetized her about three times, a 
friend of the family, Mr. Harvey Haight, whom she had not 
seen for a number of months, came in, Dr. Lyon being present. 

Mrs. Mettler, being in the magnetic state, was immediately 
attracted to the condition of Mr. Haight, who was then suffer- 
ing very much from a distress in the back, caused by a difficulty 
of the kidneys. This she described so accurately as to astonish 
every one present. After this she would describe, daily, the 
various conditions of persons about her, and among them that 
of her magnetizer. In fact, any person who came in for amuse- 
ment, was pretty sure to have a revelation of his ailments, 
whether he sought for it, or not. 

By another remove she began examining her neighbors' 
complaints ; and in this way she was attracted to a Mr. Mid- 
dlebrooks, who was sick at the time. She gave a very partic- 
ular description of his disease, and prescribed remedies. Soon 
after she began giving the names of herbs and plants of which 
she knew nothing. From this she went to prescribing and 
compounding remedies, though, in the normal state, she had 
not the most distant idea of the ingredients or proportions of 
any medicinal compound ; and 'she was but a miserable nurse. 

She had but little faith in her own prescriptions, and laughed 



66 BIOGtUPHY OF MRS. MKlTl.KK. 

at the idea of people's following them. But there were many 
who had 80 much faith thai they look her medicines, and found 
them very beneficial This induced them to recommend her 

to otln PS. 

She was greatly troubled about adopting this new treatment 
of disease as a PROFESSION ; and at first only consented to 
make examinations in order to gratify those who came to her. 
But the work was plainly marked out for her, although at the 
time she could not perceive it. The quite remarkable cures 
she made, even in the beginning, soon spread her name abroad; 
and by that same over-mastering spirit of love, which is the 
ruling power in her character, she was induced to leave home, 
and commence visiting the neighboring towns ; and in all these 
ministering visits her success was very good. 



CHAPTER XIII. 

APPARENT CONVERSION OF MRS. BEERS 

Mrs. Mettler's mother had been at first very much opposed 
to her being magnetized ; but in the year 1849, when Mrs. 
Mettler was being developed, Mrs. Beers was spending the 
winter with her son in New- York. In the following summer 
she made a visit of three weeks to Mrs. Mettler ; and during 
that time, beiug present at several examinations, she became 
much interested. She knew that the persons examined were 
perfect strangers to the seeress ; and yet she heard them ac- 



MRS. BEERS. 67 

knowledge the correctness of her statements. During the 
Winter previous she herself had had a very severe attack of the 
malady which finally caused her death ; and she was moved to 
ask for an examination of her case, also. During the Summer she 
took the medicines ordered, and was much benefitted by them. 

In the Autumn she came to make another visit ; but on 
going home one of her sons having lost a little child, she went 
to his house to assist in preparing for the funeral. On this 
occasion she over-exerted herself, and became prostrated again, 
from which she never recovered. One of her sons, hearing of 
her illness, and fearing that Mrs. Mettler might be called, gave 
orders for the old family physician to attend her. Mrs. Mettler, 
however, visited her often, although she was at that time neces- 
sarily away from home a great deal. On these occasions, Mrs. 
Beers was very much interested in the subjects connected with 
the specific differences in their religious views, often requesting 
Mrs. Mettler to give her ideas of death — or rather those of 
Mr. Davis, on which her own were founded. At one time a 
sister-in-law of Mrs. Mettler's came in weeping. She had been 
to the grave of her little child, lately buried. She said she 
loved to go to his grave, it was such a comfort. It seemed as 
if she could see him there. 

" Why, my dear child," said the elder Mrs. Beers, " I could 
get no comfort by visiting the grave. He is not there. His 
spirit has flown to its resting-place in the bosom of God. That 
is what makes death appear to me beautiful." 

After a few minutes she added : "I long for the time to 
come ; for I feel that it is but passing into a higher and more 
•beautiful condition." 



68 BIOGRAPHY Of MRS. METTLER. 

Through these and similar remarks, Mrs. Mettler perceived 

a remarkable change in her mother's views and feelings. The 
only thing in the great transition which she seemed to dread, 
was a long and lingering struggle. Her continued prayer 
that it might not be protracted, was mercifully granted. On 
the morning of her death, she had risen, and dressed a> usual. 
Soon after this she sat down in her chair, and passed away 
without a groan. 

About three weeks previous to her death, having become 
dissatisfied with her physician's treatment, she had desired Mrs. 
Mettler to examine her and administer something that would 
merely soothe her sufferings ; for she well knew she could not 
recover. Mrs Mettler, knowing her brother's and sisters' feel- 
ings, hesitated for some time ; but finally consented — the result 
of which was that the patient was made able to sit up, walk 
about the room, and read sometimes. 

The last week previous to her death Mrs. Mettler was called 
away to Stamford. Before leaving she spent nearly the whole 
day with her mother. She had been reading several pages in 
the Life of Christ ; and when she spoke of it she remarked that 
it seemed as if she had never seen his character so beautifully 
portrayed as at that time. They conversed together much on 
the subject of death, which seemed to interest her more than 
all other things ; and Mrs. Mettler then more clearly perceived 
that her spirit had acquired a much higher degree of freedom 
than had ever before been exhibited. She had always been 
possessed of a true Christian feeling, though it was cramped 
by the superstition, bigotry and errors of the church to which 
she belonged. «* 



THE MOST CRUEL BLOW. 69 

When Mrs. Mettler left her that morning, she was very 
strong in her desire that she might return soon, observing in 
the same connection, that she as weli as herself knew that her 
time must be near at hand. 

On taking leave Mrs. Mettler desired her brother's family to 
send for her if there should be any change. This idea was 
received with derision, and was repeated to the Doctor, with 
the remark, that if she was clairvoyant, she might see for her- 
self ; and that he should not trouble himself to send for her ; 
a kind resolution which, as we shall presently see, he actually 
put in practice. 



CHAPTER XIV. 



THE MOST CRUEL BLOW. 



Mrs. Mettler was detained longer in Stamford than she had 
anticipated. The day before leaving she was impressed with a 
melancholy presentiment of some unpleasant news. Her mind 
was continually recurring to her mother ; and she wished very 
much to return that night, but could not, because of the exam- 
ination she was engaged to make in the afternoon. She could 
not rest through the night ; and she was strongly impressed 
that her mother desired to see her. But in the abnormal state 
it was all dark around her mother. She could see nothing of 
her. This, doubtless, was mercifully ordered, that she might 



70 BIOG&APOT Of MRS. ICETTLER. 

be able to do the good works that lay immediately before her, 
which otherwise she could not have accomplished. 

In the morning, before it was time forthe early train, which 
she was expected to take, two person- came who strongly 
urged her to wait until the next day, as they wished to have 
another patient examined ; and this she most reluctantly com- 
plied with. 

They took the two o'clock train, and had ridden about half 
the distance from Stamford to Bridgeport, Mrs. Mettler still 
remaining in a very melancholy mood, thinking of her mother, 
when suddenly the thought came into her mind, as if some one 
had spoken to her ; " You do not know but your brothers are 
in the cars ! " 

She turned her head instantly, and saw one of her brothers, 
who had just come from a lower part of the car to speak to 
her ; and as she looked up, he was tapping Mr. Mettler on 
the shoulder. He appeared very grave, asked where his sister 
had been ; and the instant that she informed him, the truth 
came to her mind, that he was on his way to attend their 
mother's funeral. Under all these cruel circumstances did she 
receive the sad intelligence, her brother saying very coolly, 
" Did you know Mother is dead V } 

He appeared somewhat surprised that they had not informed 
her of the event ; but made no comments. He stood a mo- 
ment, then went back to the seat where his brother was sit- 
ting, little knowing the anguish of his neglected and ill-used sis- 
ter, who in that desolate moment stood entirely alone ; for her 
loss w r as doubly painful from the reflection, that she was so 
entirely severed from all her family, that even as a common 



THE MOST CRUEL BLOW. 11 

mourner she could find no sympathy with them — and that her 
mother was taken away, at the very time when she had just 
begun to enjoy her society and conversation. 

The two brothers remained in their seat until they had 
arrived in Bridgeport, when the elder came forward, spoke to 
Mrs. Mettler in a commonplace kind of way, and coolly 
asked if she was going to Mother's. On being answered in the 
affirmative, the two brothers went on some distance ahead, 
leaving Mrs. Mettler and her husband to follow alone. 

On the way they met one of the sisters, who was more 
friendly. She said that her mother had expressed a great 
desire to see Semantha, but that none of them saw her de- 
parture. 

Mrs. Mettler passed into the house and stood beside the ven- 
erated Form. There she felt the comforting influences of the 
Spirit ; and she was relieved of the feeling of loneliness which 
had before oppressed her. Mrs. Mettler stood there with her 
brothers and sisters, for the space of half an hour, and not a 
single word was exchanged between them. 

Soon after Mrs. Mettler went home to make preparations 
for the funeral the next day. She was afterward informed 
that her mother had wished mnch through the whole day 
before her departure to see Semantha, though she said she 
could not understand why it was. She also, in her late con- 
versations, had often spoken of her sons, wishing them to 
investigate, saying they would not be so bitter if they could 
understand what they condemned. 

They bore their mother's body to the grave in Fairfield, a 
distance of four miles ; and on their return Mrs. Mettler bade 



72 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER. 

adieu to her brothers from New -York, as they would return 
early in the morning ; and she went home, feeling that though 
she was an outcast from the external bonds of family relation- 
ship, the interior blessing of communion with the dear Spirit 
was hers, alone ; for they could make no monopoly of that. 

The next evening Mrs. Mettler, thinking her sister-iu-law, 
with whom her mother had of late resided, would be lonely, 
went to pass the evening w r ith her, when, of course, they con- 
versed much of the departed. On her rising to leave, her sis- 
ter-in-law handed her a letter purporting to come from her 
brother H., though she thinks it was the joint production of 
the three, the two brothers and the sister-in-law, as it partook 
of the character and feeling which had been manifested by them 
all. The writer demanded that she should renounce her pro- 
fession and her principles, declaring that if she would not do 
so, he should never again be able to call her what he wished 
t — a sister. In short, the letter seemed to be written in that 
cold, cruel, heartless spirit of dogmatism, which can have no 
affection — no sense of respect but for some grand embodyment 
of physical force — such as the Incarnation of Supreme Cruelty 
on whose bloody altars is sacrificed every thing that is tender 
and truthful in nature ; and they, too, were coldly immolating, 
in that austere and unnatural worship, the heart of an innocent 
and loving sister ! 

Is not this the same spirit which, of old sent young maidens 
to be devoured by unknown monsters — which, in modern 
times has lighted the fires, and refined the tortures of the 
Inquisition — hung Baptists and Quakers — which still binds the 
Hindoo widow to the burning stake, and sacrifices young chit 



A NEW POWER DEVELOPED. % 13 

dren, or crushes thousands beneath the car of Juggernaut? 
The j are all one — the outgrowth of a rank heathenism ; and 
if any of them appear in a christian land they gather no 
defense from their position, but only seem the blacker — the 
more deformed. If our intense compassion for all these 
benighted ones could only carry light with it, they would 
surely soon be brought to see — to believe — to know, and be 
happy in their new light, knowledge, faith, and liberty. 



CHAPTER XV. 

A NEW POWER DEVELOPED. 

By advice of her friend, S. B. Brittan, Mrs. Mettler was 
induced to visit several places where he was lecturing on Psy- 
chology. During this tour she examined many patients in 
Sandy Hook and Southington, Connecticut, and in Springfield, 
Massachusetts. 

Her fame soon reached Cabottville, a small village in the 
neighborhood of Springfield ; and there was first developed 
her power of healing by the hand. In the month of January, 
1851, she was called to visit Miss Mary Mosman, a young 
lady, daughter of Deacon Silas Mosman of Cabottville. 

The details of this wonderful case can best be given in the 
words of Mr. Mosman himself. 

" Cabottville, Jan. 9, 1850. 
" Be it known that my daughter, Mary, now twenty-two years old, 
has, for about three years past, been mostly confined to her bed, and 



74 - BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLES. 

unable to walk alone. About the middle of July last she lost all 
power of the organs of speeeh, and a tew days after was deprived of her 
eyesight, becoming entirely blind, with no power to even raise her eye- 
lids. All possible means have been used lor her relief. She has 
been attended by twelve or thiilcen different physicians, some of them 
being of the highest order and skill. She eontinued in about the 
same condition, changing only for the worse ; and was finally told 
that she eould never be any better. 

" By this time we had almost despaired of obtaining any relief. 
But through a kind Providence, we noticed a letter in one of the 
Springfield papers respecting the claims and powers of Mrs. Mettler, 
the claire-voyaHte, in healing and restoring the sick. We immediately 
applied to her, and after several attempts we were fortunate in get- 
ting her to make us a visit. On the evening of the above date she 
called, made a clairvoyant examination of Mary's case, and prescribed 
for her. The next day Mrs, M. called again ; and by manipulations 
quieted her a good deal. 

" On the next Wednesday she called a third time to see her ; and 
in about half an hour, with nothing but her own hands, she suc- 
ceeded, to the joy of all, in opening her eyes, and restoring her 
sight and speech ! The next day Mrs. Mettler called again ; and to 
our astonishment she triumphantly put the case beyond all question, 
by making my daughter walk entirely alone, which she had not done 
for three years. 

" Such are the facts in this most remarkable cure. Mary continues 
to see, talk, and walk ; and for all we know she must soon be restored 
to her former good health." 

And perhaps one of the most remarkable features in this 
case, is, that the good work was done without the least faith 
on the part of the patient. It may be asked here of what 
good faith could be in such a matter ; and it may be answered, 



A NEW POWER DEVELOPED. ' T5 

that some degree of trust is necessary, in order to induce the 
reposeful, or passive condition, which throws the subject com- 
pletely under the influence of the operator. It is probable 
that in this instance indifference, itself, favored the receptive, 
or passive state. 

This wonderful cure produced a great excitement in the 
vicinity where it occurred, and was spread, more or less, 
through the public papers of the country. 

To give a history of even the most remarkable cures would 
swell this volume quite too much. I will merely throw in the 
outline of a few. In February, 1850, Mrs. Mettler was called 
to see Mrs. Climena Burt, of Chicopee, Mass., who had been 
afflicted with a Spinal disease and Inflammatory Rheumatism. 
She had not been able to walk for more than a year and a 
half ; and for seven months she could not lie in bed. During 
that long period she was confined to a rocking chair, and could 
not be moved without the most intense pain. Her muscular 
system had become so powerless that the head would fall 
back ; and she was unable to raise it without help. The joints 
of her limbs and other parts of the body, were much swollen, 
and attended by acute pains. One limb was so contracted as 
to become about four inches shorter than the other. She had 
several eminent physicians ; but the case was declared hopeless. 

On the first application of Mrs. Mettler's wonderful power,, 
and in the short space of twenty minutes, the contracted limb 
was straightened to its full length ; and the patient was made 
to stand on her feet, and walk five 'times round the room, unas- 
sisted by any one. She continued to improve ; and the cure 
became permanent. 



16 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTI.KR. 

Mrs. Sophia Taylor, of Granby, Muss., had been suffering 
six years from a complete prostration of the nervous system. 
She had employed several of the most skillful physicians, but 
gradually grew worse for four years, during most of which 
time she had been unable to walk, without taking hold of 
whatever she could reach for support — and then only for a few 
steps. 

After having examined, and prescribed for the patient, Mrs. 
Mettler quieted her for the night, by making passes ; and in 
the morning the magnetic treatment was renewed. In Less 
than half an hour Mrs. Taylor was able to walk, erect and 
strong, when she went into another room and took breakfast, 
sat a long time, and walked round the house. The next day 
she w r ent up stairs, and came down again, without the least 
help, which she had not done before throughout her whole 
sickness. On the third day she went all over the house, then 
went out, and walked the whole length of the piazza ; and a 
few days after she rode out to visit her sister, who was also 
under the treatment of Mrs. Mettler for similar complaints, 
and whom she had not seen for five years, though only a mile 
distant. 

In April, 1850, Mrs. Mettler was called to visit Mrs. Ren- 
aude of Stamford, Ct. This lady had been sick three years, 
most of which time she had been confined to her bed, and was 
unable to walk without assistance. During the previous year 
she had been kept constantly in bed, and was unable to sit 
erect. She had the most scientific physicians of the various 
schools, and took a great deal of medicine, without relief. On 
Mrs. Mettler's first visit the distress of the patient was greatly 



A NEW POWER DEVELOPED. 71 

mitigated, and she was made to walk alone, with a firm and 
strong step, from one room to another. The next day, after 
a renewal of the same treatment, Mrs. Renaude went into the 
street, and returned without being tired. 

Mrs. Rowley, wife of Harmon Rowley, of Chicopee Falls, 
Mass., had been sick fourteen years, of a general debility. For 
two years she could not rise from her bed, or walk without 
assistance. In a very few minutes she was made to rise, and 
walk across the room without help ; and after a few applica- 
tions of the same power, she could walk, and run briskly. 

Mrs. Mary M. Ferry, of Granby Center, Mass., was sick 
between three and four years, and during the last year had 
been mostly confined to the bed, and was wholly unable to walk 
alone. She continued to grow worse ; and the case was con- 
sidered nearly, if not quite hopeless. When Mrs. Mettler first 
visited her, which was March 7, 1850, she found the patient in 
bed, scarcely able to move. 

After making the clairvoyant examination, and giving the 
prescription, Mrs. Mettler was restored to the natural state, 
when she magnetized the patient so powerfully, that she soon 
had her on her feet. Mrs. Ferry walked through several 
rooms, returned to her chamber, and after sitting awhile, rose 
and went out into the dining room, sat at table, ate dinner, and 
walked to her room again. The patient continued to walk, 
and to advance generally into a rapid recovery of her former 
health. 

And what, I now ask, would such acts as these once have 
been called ? What could they have been called but miracles ? 
By almost instantaneous results the weak are strengthened, the 



18 BIOGRAPHY of MBS. UKTTLKk. 

lame walk, and the blind see. All these works are exhibited 
before our own eyes, in open daylight, as substantial realities. 
But we now understand that, these things, marvelous as they 
appear, involve no suspension of any principle, or operation of 
.Nature. The great law of Equilibrium sustains the Universe. 
It not only balances the spheres, and sends them to describe, 
with inconceivable force, and unerring certainty, their several 
paths amid the trackless depths of ether ; but it spreads out 
the water — it diffuses light — it inspires the atmosphere ; and 
while it condenses the solid granite bosom of the mountain, it 
wings the ethereal perfume, and tinges the delicate petals in the 
bosom of a rose. 

As disease is an interruption of this law, so all true remedial 
agency must consist in the best means of its restoration. Tos- 
itive and negative forces, throughout all Nature, continually 
attract and neutralize each other. When there is a concentra- 
tion of vital energy to any given part, the disease is positive ; 
when there is a deficiency of vital energy it is negative. The 
hand of the magnetizer, being negative, on its application 
to the head of the patient, the brain being in too positive a 
state, abstracts the excess of vital fluid ; while the general 
action of the magnetic power has a tendency to equalize and 
diffuse the vital forces. 

All human beings possess more or less of this power : while 
in a few it is concentrated and exalted. Others become media 
of superhuman influence ; or, in other words, transmit the 
healing power of spirits. Such a medium, beyond a doubt, was 
Jesus ; and such are Mrs. Mcttler, John M. Spear, and others 
of modern times. 



VISIT TO NEW-YORK, 19 



CHAPTER XYI. 

VISIT TO NEW-YORK PSYCHOMETRY CURE OF MR. DAVIS. 

Mrs. Mettler remained in Springfield, as her central quarters, 
for about fifteen weeks, during which time she visited many of 
the neighboring towns, and examined a large number of 
patients. 

Even so early as this she had a great many spiritual warn- 
ings and directions, which evinced the never-ceasing watchful- 
ness of guardian care. While in Northampton, being about to 
visit a patient, she became oppressed with the most boding 
fears in regard to the case. The night before her intended 
visit, she dreamed that her mother came to her, and said : 

" Do not go there, Semantha ! If you do you will fail, and 
feel very sadly about it." She then told her to go home, and 
at the same time informed her of a family misfortune that 
would render such a step abvisable, if not necessary. 

Mrs. Mettler told her husband of this dream, and expressed 
an unwillingness to go ; but he, thinking it might be the effect 
of a rather morbid sensitiveness, sought to reassure her, in 
which he succeeded so far that she consented to go. But on 
the first attempt to see the patient, her sight failed her, and 
she could perceive nothing for the space of a few minutes, when 
her mind was attracted home, by the unhappy circumstance 
which was then transpiring in her family ; and while in the 



80 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTI.ER. 

clairvoyant state she wept, and was greatly grieved. This was 
her first failure ; and if her own true intuitions bad been fol- 
lowed, it could not have occurred. A trery remarkable feature 

in the case was this, that on waking her mind was much agi- 
tated, although she never carries the impressions of the abnor- 
mal into the normal state. 

When told of her want of success, it rendered her for a time 
very unhappy ; and in this state she returned to the house of 
Mr. Wells, of Northampton, where she was stopping. While 
sitting with a patient there, for the first time in her life, she 
was thrown into the magnetic state without a magnetizer. As 
soon as this occurred, she saw the condition of the persons she 
had tried to get into sympathy with in the morning, and gave 
a very minute description of all their difficulties — they not 
being present at the time ; and through the medium of friends, 
their correctness was afterward recognized, and acknowledged. 

In May, Mrs. Mettler went to New- York. At this time, 
among other wonderful cures, was one of a Mrs. Wilkie, of 
Brooklyn. Mrs. Mettler found her in a state of entire debility, 
and prostration of the nervous system, in which she had 
remained without help for several months. I extract the fol- 
lowing account of this very remarkable case from the New- 
York Tribune. Some very interesting papers concerning it 
were also published in the Philadelphia Inquirer. 

REMARKABLE CASE OF CLAIRVOYANCE. 

Brooklyn, Saturday, July 6, 1850. 
Sir — Knowing your praiseworthy liberality in admitting to the 
columns of your journal whatever you conceive likely to prove inter- 
esting, useful, or instructive to your readers, permit me to call your 



VISIT TO NEW-YORK. 81 

attention to a letter that appears in the Philadelphia Inquirer of the 
2d inst. It is a simple statement of facts, addressed by me to a 
friend in New-York, the morning subsequent to the application of 
the experiment by Mrs. Mettler of Mental Electricity in the case of 
my wife, to which means alone I attribute her almost miraculous 
restoration to health and strength. Should you see fit to take notice 
of that communication, I would wish to mention, in addition to 
what is therein stated, and in justice to the excellent lady, (Mrs. 
Mettler,) through whose instrumentality alone the astonishing result 
has been brought about, that my wife, Mrs. W., continues now (the 
10th day only since Mrs. W. first saw her) not only fairly convales- 
cent, but is recovering strength amazingly fast — is able to walk 
about the house and take her meals with her family — take short 
walks out morning and evening ; and in short leaving us no reason 
to doubt but that in a week or two her health and strength will be 
once more fairly reestablished and as good as it was previous to the 
commencement of her sickness, now about eleven months ago. 

I would further add, that it is my firm conviction that no one 
similarly affected as Mrs. W. was by nervous and physical prostra- 
tion, need dispair of being rapidly restored to health, provided the 
same means are made use of as were so happily resorted to in her 
case. It certainly is a most distressing ailment, but one which 
seems readily to yield to the wonderful, but salutary influence exer- 
cised and practiced so successfully by Mrs. Mettler. g. w. 

New-York, June 26, 1850. 
My Dear H. : Despairing of a successful termination of my wife's 
ailments by the ordinary mode of practice of the regular physicians, 
I informed you I was about to try the skill of a lady (a Mrs. Met- 
tler) from Bridgeport, Conn., at present resident of this City, who, I 
understood, professed to be able to ascertain the nature and cause 
of disease, and also, in a great many cases, not only to relieve, but 



82 BIOGRAPHY OF IBIS. MKITI.F.K. N 

effectually to raise ap and cure, patients who have been sick for a 
great length of time. You arc aware that since last August, Mrs. 
\V. has been in a very distressing state of nervous and physical de- 
bility. Our medical attendant termed it a case of nervous prostra- 
tion. She has not been able to see any but the members of OUT own 
family, the doctor, and a lady, (our next neighbor] whose frequent 
and kind attention had rendered her (ace familiar. 1 believe it is 
conceded by all our friends that more skillful medical attendance and 
advice could not have been obtained, but all seemingly, in her i 
to be without any decided effect for the better — not improving' in 
strength or flesh, considerably emaciated, totally unable to raise her- 
self up in bed without help, and only capable of sustaining the fa- 
tigue of walking across or round the room once, twice, or, at most, 
three times a day, by being supported by two persons, one on either 
side. She had got on so far toward recovery, from being about ten 
mouths in a helpless, prostrated condition, and the most distressing 
feature in her case up to yesterday, perhaps, was the fact, that siie 
was subject to a relapse, to total weakness and inability to bear to 
be raised up from the veriest trifle. For instance, so extremely weak 
and tender had her system become, that the slightest jar or unequal 
movement on the part of the persons supporting her round the 
room, or raising her from the bed or sofa, was attended with serious 
consequences, so much so as to throw her back perhaps a fortnight, 
so as to be unable to support being moved from the bed. Under 
these circumstances of course she has frequently felt much dis- 
couraged and disposed to entertain but faint hope of ultimate recovery. 
I had Mrs. Mettler to see her last evening. Mrs. M. was accom- 
panied by her husband. She examined Mrs. W. in a " Clairvoyant " 
state, that is, she was magnetized by her husband, and while in that 
state she examined and ascertained the nature of the ailment, gave a 
full description of the causes of the sickness, and what was necessary 
to be done to effect a cure, and prescribed what she deemed was 



VISIT TO NEW-YORK. 83 

necessary, which was taken down at her dictation. &c. She was 
anxious, while in this sleeping condition, to give us all the informa- 
tion we desired, and to answer all questions we might put to her in 
relation to Mrs. W.'s complaint. Before being awoke out of the 
magnetic sleep, she intimated that in some measure Mrs. W. that 
evening would be susceptible of being influenced psychologically 
but that owing to her timidity and nervous agitation, it would be in 
a much less degree than on her two next visits, but that on the pres- 
ent occasion she should be able to strengthen her considerably, and 
forthwith restore the power of voice to its natural tone. I should 
have mentioned that for some six months my wife had been unable 
to articulate above a whisper, and by great exertion only was she 
able to make herself heard so as to be understood. Shortly alter 
being awake, Mrs. Mettler desired to be left entirely alone with Mrs. 
W., in order that Mrs. W.'s attention shouid not be diverted trom 
being solely concentrated on herself (Mrs. M.) in about twenty 
minutes she called me to come and see my wife, and sure enough, 
there, in the middle of the floor, she stood erect, expressing, in a loud 
and natural voice, her fears that she would fall. Mrs. M. told her to 
walk toward her, which she did with ease, evidently charmed and de- 
lighted at her novel situation. She repeated her walk three or four 
times across the room, entirely by herself, seated herself, by Mrs, M 'a 
directions, in an arm-chair by herself, put her hands on the arms of 
the chair, and raised herself out of it, and walked across the room to 
Mrs. M., all the time talking in a delighted way, in quite a loud voice. 
She then walked into her room and lay down in bed, without any as- 
sistance—for the first time since she was taken sick, ten months since. 
Of course, the children and servants, that is, the whole household, 
looked on it as nothing less than a miracle. Her power of voice and 
limb were suddenly restored, in the most agreeable way, and as if by 
magic. Nothing, in my opinion, can be more absurd than for medi- 
cal men and others to affect to sneer at Mrs. Mettler s art. Facts 



84 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLEK. 

are stubborn things. Here is the case of my wife, who has been ten 
months in the hands of the regular medical practitioners, and not 
unlikely, under the same course of treatment, to continue many 
months more, suddenly raised from her bed of weakness and Buffer- 
ing, and made to walk and speak ! Your-, truly, g. w. 

In this same month, May, 1850, was first developed the 
psychometrical power, or the faculty of delineating' character 
by a piece of the writing of any person being applied to the 
forehead. But Mrs. Mettler did not, at the time, attach any 
importance to the gift and very few persons knew that she was 
in possession of it, until nearly two years after. 

In the month of September following, A. J. Davis, being 
ill, Mrs. Mettler went to attend him. Her kindness in visiting 
him, and her signal success in the cure, called for the following 
tribute from the patient, which was published in the Spirit 
itfessenger : 

ACHIEVEMENTS OF HUMAN MAGNETISM. 

Brethren : The spirit moves me to write you this morning, and 
to give you, and the many friends of the Harmonial Philosophy, an 
account of my recent illness. And here let me express my gratitude 
for the many exhibitions of fraternal Love which my late condition 
excited in the bosoms of the friends of truth and harmony. 

The question has been often asked — " How could you have been 
so ill ? " And I have noticed with considerable interest the various 
speculations which the question has developed. My illness was oc- 
casioned by a Typhoid fever — the concentration oi all fever diseases. 
A nd among all the theories as to the origin of such a fever in my 
organism, I have noticed but one which approach any where near the 
real causes of the physical disturbance in question. In truth, friends, 
it is impossible for me to ever have any other fever, except for a few 



CURE OF MR. DAVIS. 85 

days, while my spiritual or mental exercises continue so excessive 
and exalted. 

Previous to my illness, for six weeks, I was constantly engaged in 
writing upon the most stupendous subject that ever incited human 
thought ; and my whole mental organization was exercised ex- 
tremely ; for my subject is " God — -the Ruler of the Universe." This 
extreme exercise of the spiritual faculties pressed my entire system 
into the extreme positive state, which inevitably develops the fever 
that caused my exceeding prostration. Those friends who have fa- 
miliarized their minds with the Philosophy of disease, as unfolded in 
" The Great Harmonia," Yol. 1, will readily understand the causes 
and nature of my illness. But enough of this. 

My principal object in writing is to relate the wonders of my resto- 
ration. In the early stages of my fever, I was daily visited by an 
allopathic physician of acknowledged skill and ability ; but, as my 
complaint became more positive, his faith in my ultimate restoration 
to health subsided, and it was generally believed, by those who wit- 
nessed my condition, that I should soon become a permanent resident 
in the Spirit-Land. But Mrs. Mettler, of Bridgeport, Conn., hearing, 
through a notice in the Messenger, of my condition, came immedi- 
ately to Cambridge, where I was temporarily residing. My case 
was submitted to her inspection, and her diagnosis of the symptoms 
was exceedingly accurate. Out of several millions of medicines 
which exist in the world, her discriminating perceptions selected, for 
my case, two simple vegetable remedies. Of these a tea was made 
and administered according to her directions. Through the agency 
of this simple tea, the applicability of which to my complaint the 
wisdom of a clairvoyant only could discover, my fever was subsided. 

Now I put this down to the credit of clairvoyance ; for the Ty- 
phoid Fever is the most obstinate of all positive disturbances ; and, 
under the treatment of the most skillful physicians, it is known as a 
fever which exhausts itself or the patient — one or the other must die. 



80 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTI.KR. 

Bat clairvoyance accomplishes in a few hours what the medical sci- 
ence of modern days classes among the impossibilities. 

Combined with the tea, in the removal of this fever, was Iranian 
magnetism, sometimes called psychology. I can never forget the 
morning when the following miracle was wrought upon me. The 
physician who had seen me but two days previous, gave it as his 
opinion that 1 should be obliged to remain in bed six weeks, and ab- 
stain from food twenty days longer. I had already sunk so low in 
physical strength that I could not turn in bed, nor assist myself with 
my hands. And my food and medicine, for nearly three weeks, with 
but few exceptions, had been confined to Congress Water, which I 
drank freely. Such was my condition when Mrs. Mettler, in accordance 
with her interior directions while in the clairvoyant state, came to my 
bedside, and, taking my hand in her own, and gazing a few moments 
steadily in my eyes, said — " Now you can raise up in your bed.'' The 
requisite strength and confidence to do so flowed throughout m\ 
tern in an instant ; and I forthwith raised up with ease. Now she 
made passes down my spine, and over my entire body, and bade me 
walk from my bed to a chair, which had been prepared for the pur- 
pose, about four yards from the bed I was occupying. This I did 
with astonishing ease ; and I rested in my chair that day nearly four 
hours. Thus I substantially took up my bed and walked. 

Every morning, about the same hour, I was magnetized (or psy- 
chologized) by the lady whose name and fame you have frequently 
heard of ; and in ten days I could drive out and enjoy the sunlight 
and air. But here let me acknowledge the careful nursing which I 
received at the hands of Mr. Mettler, to whose prompt attention 
and fraternal watchfulness I owe much of the health I so rapidly re- 
ceived. And I trust he will always thus cooperate with his com- 
panion in her visits to. and treatment of, the sick and distressed. 

The harmonizing and tranquilizing influence of this illness upon 
my body and mind was deep and thorough. I am more healthy now 



PSYCHOMETRICAL READINGS. 8*1 

than I have been for years. My entire system has experienced a species 
of regeneration or purification ; and my mind is vastly more free to 
explore the infinite ramifications of those great anc^ lofty subjects 
which will constitute the vital system of my future volumes — The 
Great Harmonia. While I continue on the earth my life shall be 
devoted to the work of human happiness and progression ; and, 
brethren, my prayer is that you, and all who see the Truth as it is in 
Nature and God, may lovingly and zealously cooperate in the full 
and complete accomplishment of the same ends. 

Yours, in the bonds of affection, 

Andrew J. Davis. 



CHAPTER XVII. 

PS YCH OM ETRI C AL READINGS. 

Not long after this, or in the month of October, Mrs. Met- 
tler went to visit her friends and patients in Springfield and its 
vicinity. Taking Cabottville in her way, she there received an 
application from a young man ; and the cure of his very difficult 
case is thus established on- the strength of his own testimony. 

CLAIRVOYANCE. 

This is to certify that I have been suffering from an extreme weak- 
ness of the lungs and chest ; a great shortness of breath, produced 
from what one physician termed an adhesion of the lungs, though 
others were not able to determine what the real difficulty was. Al- 
though under medical skill and treatment, my difficulties seemed to 



88 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER 

increase; my case continued to grow alarming, as I had already been 
suffering for over two years, and unable to do scarcely any thing, nor 
gef any relief. 

At this stage of my difficulties, I had made up my mind that there 
was no help for me. This was the opinion also of the physicians. I 
then made up my mind to try the last of all remedies, that of Clair- 
voyance and Psychology. 

Accordingly I embarked for Cabottville, to the residence of Cap- 
tain Strong, where Mrs. Mettler was then temporarily residing-. 
"Without the least faith, I ventured to have her in her Clairvoyant 
state, explore my then hopeless condition, which she did with the 
most perfect accuracy, pointing out facts almost impossible to be- 
lieve without a previous knowledge of them. To me it was truly 
astonishing, and too miraculous almost to believe. She then gave 
me a prescription, after she was brought out of her superior state. 
She soon succeeded in affecting me Psychologically, and in a few mo- 
ments caused me to breathe almost as free as any one. My lungs 
felt strong and easy — hope revived. I then commenced taking her 
prescriptions, and following her directions. Soon after I commenced 
her treatment, I took the worst and most prostrating cold that man 
could ever be afflicted with, yet under her treatment, with the cold 
upon my lungs, felt better and stronger than before, though all the 
neighbors thought it impossible for me to live. 

But here I am, in less than four months, under her treatment, re- 
stored. I am now able to do any kind of work, and can walk as far 
in a day as any other person 

I know of a great many in this and other neighborhoods that have 
been under Mrs. Mettler's treatment — cases that seemed to baffle all 
ordinary skill by the regular physicians, have been restored by this 
lady's wonderful and mysterious power. 

The result in my case gives me unbounded confidence in hei Clair- 
voyant powers, and 1 most cheerfully recommend the sick to give her 



PSYCHOMETRICAL READINGS. 89 

a trial, particularly when her system of operation is perfectly safe 
and free from risk. 

N. B. — This testimony is given of my own free will, unsolicited 
on her part. I give it as a duty I owe Mrs. Mettler, as well as the 
public. M. S. Pease. 

Granby, Mass., Oct., 1850. 

It will readily be seen by these instances, that not only is 
Mrs. Mettler the medium of an astonishing power, but she is 
possessed of a clairvoyance truly wonderful. In the period of 
three years she has examined between two and three thousand 
persons ; and when we consider that the most of these were the 
worst cases — such as had no hope from any other system — her 
success appears incredible. 

She is equally happy in describing cases at a distance — get- 
ting into sympathy with the patient by a lock of hair — as hun- 
dreds of testimonials might be brought forward to show. 

These wonderful cures, among many other expressions of 
astonishment and gratitude called forth the following, which 
appeared in the Spirit Messenger' of October, 1851. 

THE MIRACLES OF THE PRESENT. 

It will appear evident to every observing individual that there 
are wonders unfolded in the present age, fully equal, it would seem, 
to those which were regarded in ancient times as the operations of 
supernatural power. These wonders which call forth" so many ex- 
pressions of astonishment, should be subjected to the closest intel- 
lectual scrutiny. We may read with lingering reverence of the mira- 
cles of the olden time ; we may see in imagination the man of Naza- 
reth relieving the sufferings of humanity — healing the sick, opening 
the eyes of the blind, and causing the lame to walk, but when we 
discover these things as present and living realities — when, by the 



90 BI0O&JLPHT OF MUS. MKTTLKR. 

operation of the same laws, wv see similar miracles performed before 
our ryes, it la proper, while we gaze with wonder at the effects pro- 
duced, to investigate such phenomena in a philosophical spirit, and 
obtain a more expanded perception of the principles operating in 

Nature. It is important that the public mind should be impn 
with the fact, that the mysterious developments which are being 
made in the science of mind, do not involve any suspension or vio- 
lation of the laws of the Universe, but rather result from the natu- 
ral and inevitable operation of those laws, which, though now imper- 
fectly understood, are established in the very constitution of things. 
How much better will it be, therefore, to patiently investigate the 
principles of nature, by which all visible effects are produced, than 
to arrogantly assume a knowledge of all these principles, and then 
to judge facts by this imperfect standard. 

The foregoing reflections have been induced by witnessing the 
manifestations of clairvoyance in connection with medical treatment, 
as preseuted in the case of Mrs. Mettler, of Bridgeport, Conn., who 
is now spending a short time in this place. The success of this lady 
in the examination and treatment of disease, is truly remarkable. It 
would seem, from the many cures performed through her agency, that 
she has been endowed with a portion of that divine virtue and the 
gift of that healing power which was manifested by the acient apos- 
tles. Persons suffering with the most aggravated and dangerous dis- 
eases, have been in a brief space of time entirely relieved by her 
treatment, and the multitude who have been placed under her care, 
will testify to the correctness of her examinations, and the wonder- 
ful effects of her therapeutic practice. The world may little realize 
the blessings which one such instrument is enabled to bestow, but 
the consciousness of having aided in the relief of human suffering, 
and the approbation of the good angels that smile on every benevo- 
lent effort, will be a richer reward than the fleeting wealth of earth. 

R. P. A. 



PSYCHOMETRIC AL READINGS. 91 

But from all these triumphs there was ever one drawback. 
The relatives of Mrs. Mettler were universally opposed to the 
course she had taken, in being developed as a clairvoyant sub- 
ject, and especially to her adopting the healing of the sick by 
spiritual means as a profession. They consider her avocation 
as not only unchristian, but also, what is probably worse in their 
opinion, as unpopular and ungenteel. And though her loving 
heart would, for a long time, cling to them with the utmost 
tenacity, yet she has found herself cut off from most of her own 
family. Only two brothers and one sister will now visit her at 
all, while three brothers and one sister have cast her off entirely. 
But with these trials, bitter and severe as they were in passing, 
Mrs. Mettler gained one signal advantage. All barriers to 
future progress were effectually removed. 

The power of psychometrizing, to which allusion has already 
been made, is, perhaps, one of the most wonderful of all those 
phenomena which have yet been given us to illustrate the phi- 
losophy of electrical or spiritual sympathy. It seems to be, in 
fact, a condition of pure sympathy. The mind of the Reader, 
for the time being, enters into, and takes possession of, the mind 
and character of the subject, and is affected by all the sensa- 
tions, thoughts, feelings, and desires of the sphere, as if they 
were inherent in the mind of the observer ; and it is the reflected 
image which is thus portrayed. 

Mrs. Mettler's first efforts of this kind were triumphs ; but 
not perceiving that much good could be done in this way, she 
did not consider the possession of this wonderful power was 
even worth speaking of ; and finally it was brought before the 
world by a seeming accident. 



VV BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER. 

S. B. Brittan, having inquired of Mrs. Mettler if liis wife 
could be thrown into the superior condition, at a certain time, 
wa> asked why he wished to know. Mr. Brittan replied that 
lie wanted to get the character of a person at the West, with 
whom he had souk? idea of going into business. Mr. Mettler 
then told him if that was all he wanted, Mrs. Mettler could 
read a character in the normal state, by the application of a 
piece of the person's writing to the forehead. A specimen was 
produced, and the character read. A subsequent comparison 
with facts showed that it was remarkably correct. Mr. Brittan 
was delighted and astonished, he never having heard before that 
she was in possession of such a faculty. 

Mrs. Mettler then commenced reading characters ; and some 
of her sketches have been published in the Shehinah, and other 
periodicals. We find in them not only a graphic truthfulness 
in the general scope and mold of character, but the finest lines, 
and the most delicate shades of individuality, such as would 
only be noticed by the deeply discriminating eye, and therefore 
might escape the observation of one's most intimate friends. 

The following admirable portrait of a distinguished literary 
lady which we give below, is borrowed from the Shekinah. I 
can testify to its truth from actual personal knowledge of con- 
siderable intimacy, and especially to her wonderful sensibility 
to the Beautiful, which is at once so intense, delicate, and fine, 
that it pervades every action, and seems to be diffused through 
her whole being. 

PSYCHOMETRICAL SKETCH OF SARAH HELEN* WHITMAN. 

The subject seems to be a lady, with a delicate nervous or mental 
temperament. She is aspiring, in a good sense, and possesses great 



PSYCHCTMETRICAL READINGS. 93 

elevation of mind and character. Her extreme sensibility renders it 
impossible for her to be indifferent to praise or censure. This is a 
person of fine taste, displayed in all she does ; in her language, hab- 
its, and whole manner of life. She is kind in her disposition, benev- 
olent and sympathetic, and refined in character and manners. 

This is a beautiful spirit, and so intuitive that many bright and 
truthful impressions will come to her from the Spirit-world. She 
has an intense love of sublimity and beauty — is fond of paintings 
and other artistic objects. With this great imaginative power, she 
could construct a good story. She can write and speak very point- 
edly — and can say severe things mildly. The most beautiful pictures 
of the imaginatioL come up before me. She is charmed in her med- 
itations — possesses great originality — and I am sure can write exqui- 
site poetry. She must be brilliant in conversation. Her thoughts 
are expressed in an easy and graceful style. My mind is clear and 
my impressions are vivid. Images of beauty surround me and blend 
with my spirit. I am happy in this sphere. 

Nor is the following fine picture of the gifted author of Phil- 
othea, which is taken from the Spirit Messenger, considered by 
those who best know her, as less truthful and perfect. 

LYDIA MARIA CHILD. 

This person's sphere affects me very agreeably, and indicates quite 
an intuitive mind. The reflective faculties seem to predominate over 
the perceptives, for the reason that they have been exercised much 
more. I should also think that this person has large Ideality, and a 
most happy way of expressing ideas, both by writing and in conver- 
sation. 

This person possesses large Benevolence, and seems to have a uni- 
versal charity ; would love to see more equality in the condition of 
men ; seems also to possess a good share of Sublimity. This, in con- 



94 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTI.KK. 

nection with Ideality, would help her to form or imagine a beautiful 
picture in her own mind — I say her, because as I proceed the char- 
acter appears quite feminine; she possesses a good deal of Venera- 
tion. It does not seem a veneration that would lead her into any 
worship restricted by seetarian forms ; hut it is a religious sentiment 
that would teach her to venerate every thing which God has created. 

There Seems to be a tolerable share of Firmness, and a great deal 
of Conscientiousness. When she becomes firm, she is as firm as a 
rock. She has a good share of Causality and Comparison, which 
would prevent her from receiving any new idea,, or science, without a 
thorough investigation, and comparison with her own original, intui- 
tive idea, or conception of right. 

I should think she possesses a great deal of Cautiousness ; and 
hence the fear of mixing up Error with Truth sometimes prevents 
he*' progress from being so rapid as it would otherwise be. What 
she perceives intuitively is correct, She has considerable Combat- 
iveness, and might sustain herself well if called into argument. If 
she possessed a little more Hope, it would relieve her from a dejected 
or melancholy state, into which the mind seems liable to fall. Con- 
eentrativeness being large, when engaged in reading, thought, or con- 
versation, or interested in subjects pertaining to the progression and 
elevation of the Human Kace, on which her mind particularly loves 
to dwell, she can not easily be called off ; and it is difficult to disen- 
gage her attention. 

She has some love of Home, and Adhesiveness tolerably fair, 
though she would like occasionally to roam abroad. She would re- 
member well the locality and surrounding scenery of places, so as to 
give a very minute account of her journeys. She is fond of children 
and pets, and would treat them with a great deal of kindness and 
affection, though she would like to take her own particular time for 
this devotion. She is fond of the society of gentlemen, but more 
fond of her own sex ; and her friendship would be true and lasting. 



REMOVAL TO HARTFORD. 95 

I should think this person could best express the true beauty of 
her ideas in writing ; and if her writing takes the form of prose, it 
would still be highly imaginative and poetical. 

She must be somewhat eccentric in her manners, and in many of 
her habits and ways. In conversation she would be distinguished by 
individual peculiarity of manner ; and having a way of her own, 
would not care to imitate those of other people. She would be fond 
of music, and a critical judge of its merits, or demerits. She would 
love to see order — time and place for every thing ; though her mind 
being a great deal occupied, would depend more upon others to exe- 
cute or establish order. The derangement of things would seem to 
worry her much, and especially if her own sanctum was not kept in 
order. This, upon the whole, seems to be a person who would 
rather choose a few than many friends, and therefore might be called 
exclusive ; for she does require a particular quality as well as quan- 
tity of mind with which to associate. 

The Moral and Spiritual power seems to predominate over the 
sensual or selfish developments in her nature. 



CHAPTER XT 1 1 1. 



REMOVAL TO HARTFORD. 



Since the discovery of these powers, Mrs. Mettler has been 
constantly engaged in ministering to the sick and in psycho- 
metrical readings ; and though she has alienated her own imme- 
diate friends she has formed other friendships, which are, at the 
least, as valuable. 



96 BIOGRAPHY OF liKS. Ml/ni.KR. 

Some time in the Autumn of 1850, a little son of Mr. Ward 
Cheney of South Manchester, Connecticut, then in the Spirit- 
world, having obtained communication through the Fox family, 

direeted his mother, who was Buffering from disease, to apply 
to Mrs. Mettler. She did so* and found relief. Through the 
influence of this good family, who .seem to have become her 
constant and abiding friends, Mrs. Mettler was induced to 
change her residence ; and by their assistance she attained her 
present very desirable situation. 

Just after the birth of her last child Mrs. Mettler became 
very desponding, and fearful of being deceived in regard to her 
own powers. Up to the fifth week of the child's age, she had 
not been put to sleep. At this time a friend called with a lock 
of hair, wishing her to examine a person in Brooklyn. She 
feared to attempt the case ; but the lady being urgent, she con- 
sented to make the effort in the course of three or four days, 
though she had a feeling of extreme repugnance to ever being 
magnetized again. 

During the following night she dreamed of the patient, exam- 
ined the case, and prescribed. It had seemed to be a child, 
although in the normal state she had supposed it to be an adult. 
In the morning she mentioned this seeming disagreement of the 
testimony, saying at the same time that she could not compre- 
hend it. 

But in the event, the patient proved to be a child ; and 
when she saw it, she recognized the image which had been pre- 
sented to her in her dream. Afterward, in a clairvoyant state, 
she told Mr. Mettler that she had been given to know 7 that this 
was shown to her, for the purpose of strengthening her faith in 



REMOVAL TO HARTFORD. 97 

the assurance that spirits are always hovering around, assisting, 
and protecting her. 

Mrs. Mettler continued going from place to place, on her 
professional visits, until April, 1852, when she removed with 
her family to Hartford, Connecticut, where her house has be- 
come a center, not only to attract the sick and suffering, but 
also the Enlightened and Progressive. She feels now as if 
breathing the free air of Heaven ; and it seems as if there 
could be nothing that would effectually prevent her happiness, 
and progress for the future. 

We can see by the following account of a remarkable cure, 
that Mrs. Mettler has lost nothing of her power.. I extract it 
from the Hartford Times: 

MEDICAL CLAIRVOYANCE. 

Permit me, through your columns, to present to the public the fol- 
lowing facts and the wonderful powers of Clairvoyance, a perfect 
test of which I have experienced in my own family, through the 
powers of Mrs. Mettler. The facts are these : My daughter, some 
three years since, became afflicted with inflammation in her eyes, pro- 
duced at first, as we suppose, by getting a piece of lime in one of 
them. This inflammation continued to increase until both eyes be- 
came greatly inflamed, depriving her almost entirely of her sight. 
She then took cold, and this increased the inflammation with re- 
newed distress and sufferings. At this time we called in a physician 
of known skill ; he treated her case for three months. At first, under 
his treatment, there were indications of a little improvement. This, 
however, was only temporary — for in a few days they became worse 
again, and I have no doubt had the treatment been continued, she 
would have lost her eyes entirely. We then called in the second 

physician, and under his treatment, for some length of time, there 

5 



98 BIOttRAPHV 01 I1KS. URTTLER. 

waa no perceivable change for the better. We then hud about given 
up the ease Bfl hopeless. Still feeling it oiii- duty to try further, we 
called in the third physician, who. after treating the case some time, 
left it without any improvement lor the better. Our faith, by this 
time, in the regular faculty, was of coarse quite exhausted, as well as 
the hope of her ever becoming any better. During the attendance 
of these physicians, there wras a sp >t or felon upon the eye, which 
was continually increasing, and the inflammation became so extreme 
that it was with great difficulty that she could distinguish one person 
from another. She could scarcely open her eyelids, and that only in 
the dark. Of course, now all hope for her restoration was at an end, 
and thus she remained suffering intensely. 

Finally, through the persuasion of a kind friend, as a last resort, 
we took her to Mrs. Mettler on the 21st of May last. Mrs. Mettler, 
while in the clairvoyant state, gave a perfect and minute detail of 
the causes of her complaint, and then prescribed for her ; and, to our 
utter astonishment, after the application of her prescription, 
than two weeks, she could see quite well, improving almost as if by 
magic or miracle ; and in less than four weeks she could see to read, 
and has continued so ever since. Will the Medical Faculty or any 
other Faculty explain this ? After giving up all hope, the physi- 
cians exhausting their skill, to have a child so suddenly snatched from 
hopeless midnight darkness, calls forth my heartfelt gratitude to Mrs. 
Mettler. May her extraordinary powers continue, as she moves on 
in her mission, relieving suffering humanity of the most difficult forms 
of disease. Her system seems perfectly safe and without risk. Al- 
most daily do I hear of some poor sufferer relieved or restored by 
this lady's powers. She seems to have all the worse cases to attend, 
after they have passed through the physician's hands. Experiment- 
ally, sufferers, as a last resort, call upon her, and with the most aston- 
ishing success. 

The cry of humbug is a miserable substitute for facts, especially 



REMOVAL TO HARTFORD. 99 

when facts are daily multiplying in our own city, to say nothing of 
what is occurring all over the wide world. George Staples. 

Hartford, Dec. 13, 1852. 

In another number of the same paper, we find the following 
very interesting account of Mrs. Mettler's Psychometrical 
Readings : 

PSYCHOMETRICAL READINGS. 

Among the new developments of the age, (and you can not deny, 
Mr. Editor, that new and startling principles are rapidly developing 
themselves to the human mind,) is that of Psychometrical Beading. 
I have given much attention to it, and am fully satisfied that there is 
a true principle connected with it ; but it appears as yet remarkably 
subtile, and as delicate, though as far-reaching, as thought itself. I 
will state the method of reading psychometrically. It is very simple. 
An individual writes a letter, a name or the alphabet merely, will an- 
swer the purpose. This is inclosed in a wrapper, but no mark must 
be made by any other person, either upon the letter or wrapper. This 
enveloped and sealed paper is carried to the psychometer, who places 
it upon her forehead, (I say " her," because it is a lady who has read 
in this way in my presence,) and, after remaining silent a few mo- 
ments, she commences a sort of phrenological exposition of the char- 
acter of the writer. She knows nothing of the person — has not the 
slightest indication whether it is a good or bad man, or whether he 
whose writing she is about to press upon her forehead, is talented or 
weak-minded ; and still this lady has not, to my knowledge, failed in 
any instance to give the leading characteristics of those who are thus 
examined by her, and I know personally of five cases, and have 
heard of twenty or thirty others from responsible persons. The lady 
who reads psychometrically in this city is Mrs. Mettler ; her family 
reside at No. 8 College-street, and she is a very worthy lady. She 



100 BIOGKAl'HY OF MRS. M KITLKR. 

can not explain the power which she po ind merely gives the 

ideas as they are vividly impressed apon her mind while the letter is 
held upon her forehead, 

A few days since, 1 carried to her an envelop of a letter, the direc- 
tion of which was written by Lord Brougham of England, so con- 
spicuous for his oratory and high order of talents. Mrs. Mcttler had 
not the remotest idea as to the name or position of the individual she 
was about to describe, as the writing was sealed closely in au envelop, 
and she was merely requested to read the character. She remarked 
as follows, all the time holding the envelop upon her forehead : 

" This is a person of strong and powerful intellect, and is marked 
for his positive character. He perceives quickly, and expresses his 
ideas freely, indeed, copiously. He possesses much refinement of 
thought ; is not confined to self, but has much universal feeling and 
benevolence of heart. He can not be a sectarian. He reasons much, 
and reason is a guiding principle with him. He entertains no prin- 
ciple save that which appeals to his idea of right. He receives 
nothing without a reason. He has much firmness and self-com- 
mand. But an appeal to his sympathies would affect him. He 
possesses manly deportment, is pleasing in his conversation, is often 
inclined to deep meditation. He would enjoy domestic comforts, 
though I should think circumstances have deprived him of this. He 
sighs at times for retirement, where he may enjoy every thing in a sim- 
ple manner, acting out his true nature. Children are very pleasing 
to him ; he likes them for their innocence. He is pleased with an 
intelligent lady, likes her for her goodness, is ardent in his friend- 
ships, and can not be easily turned against one whom he considers his 
friend. Order and punctuality are large with him. Music hath 
many charms for him, and a plaintive kind would affect him to tears. 
He has a good idea of color, is a good judge of a picture, has a good 
memory of past events. He enjoys a good joke or pun. He can be 
or is an Orator, and a marked character. He has very, very great 



REMOVAL TO HARTFORD. 101 

gifts of Oratory — very great. His intellectual and moral faculties 
predominate." 

Here the leading characteristics are truly told, and the gentleman 
from whom I obtained Lord Brougham's writing informs me that he 
knows the allusion to his extreme love of music to be true ; and we 
should judge that he sighs for retirement sometimes, for he has a 
country residence in France, where he goes evidently to get away 
from the cares of public life. 

I gave her three more autographs, closely sealed, but did not inti- 
mate in the least as to the character of either of the writers. The 
first was by Lord Ashburton, the second by D 'Israeli, both promi- 
nent men in England and the world. I would give you the complete 
description she made of each, but have already made this too lengthy. 
I will remark, however, that so accurate was the description, that 
the gentleman who favored me with the autographs at once recog- 
nized each character by reading the three — " this is Lord Brougham," 
"this is Ashburton, and this, D 'Israeli," said he, " and there are re- 
markable points in each." 

The other letter was written by a convict in our State Prison, on 
Thanksgiving day, and was directed to his mother. At once she re- 
marked, " the sphere of this writer is unpleasant ; he has a double 
character ; that is, he has much secretiveness, and is not just what 
he appears to be ; he has conscientiousness, but can not control it ; he 
loves to read poetry, can write poetry tolerably well, and dwells a 
great deal upon home and scenes of his childhood — indeed, more 
than upon any other subject ; he has a great love for order, is odd 
in his expressions, but his general character is not pleasant." 

I had not read the letter, but had liberty to do so. In it was a re- 
quest that his mother would send him a volume of poems, and some 
worsted shirts of a certain color ; then followed four well-written stan- 
zas on the " home of his childhood." The letter was written with an 
extraordinary regard for order — every comma, period, semi-colon. 



102 BIOGRAPHY OP MRS. METTLER. 

dash, apostrophe, and hyphen, was in its place, and some of his ideas 
were oddly enough expressed. He is in imprisonment for the crime 
of burglary and attempt to kill. 

The wrappers, inclosing the writings of the three Englishmen, 
were all precisely alike, and as they had got mixed, I did not myself 
know one from the other as she was reading them, but marked them 
when she had concluded the reading of each. She is not in the Clair- 
voyant state when she reads psychometrically, and this renders the 
whole thing more astonishing. Let those who take any interest in 
this matter test it to their own satisfaction. 

A Citizen of Hartford. 

The reading of the convict's character was, perhaps, a more 
wonderful delineation than either of the others, because it 
revealed powers, capabilities, and tastes, one would not be look- 
ing for in such a subject, and which could not be generally 
known. Of coruse she had no preconceived idea of any differ- 
ence in position between her subjects ; but this fact shows that 
the mind in such cases goes down into the depths, entirely 
below the ken of ordinary acquaintances. 



CHAPTER XIX. 

SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS. 

During the last year Mrs. Mettler has had many interesting 
spiritual exercises and impressions, which are greatly varied in 
character. While in a circle she never knows what will be done 
with her. At some times she lectures, then again she dances, 



SPIRITUAL MANIFESTATIONS 103 

while at other times she acts dramatic scenes, and pantomimes. 
The dancing is very fine, full of an exquisite piquancy and 
gracefulness — it is, in truth, " the poetry of motion ;" and what 
is very remarkable, she never danced a step in her life in the 
normal state, and is incapable of achieving the simplest figure. 

The spiritual acting of the dramatic scene, in which she is 
usually assisted by some other persons, is a perfect representa- 
tion of nature ; for it is natural, the sentiments being inspired, 
spoken, and represented by appropriate action, at the same time. 
Such acting on the stage would carry every thing before it. 
Some great moral or spiritual truth is made the basis of the 
drama. As there is no programme of the performances, and 
therefore the spectators do not know what is coming till it is 
nearly or quite past, and at the same time the actors, them- 
selves, do not remember any thing of what has happened, when 
they return to the normal state, these representations seem to 
go by with a kind of meteoric splendor, which arrests the atten- 
tion, and thrills the heart for a little while ; and then it is 
extremely difficult to give any thing of a definite idea of what 
has passed ; and even if the scenes and language could be cor- 
rectly remembered by the observers in their original form and 
spirit, no merely verbal description could present them to other 
minds so that they could obtain the faintest notion of the effect 
produced. 

The passage of the soul into another sphere, and its introduc- 
tion to the scenes of the Spirit-world, is a favorite subject in 
these delineations ; and many of the scenes thus represented 
are indescribably beautiful. The actors, themselves, are, as it 
were, transfigured by the spiritual impressions which they 



104 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER. 

receive ; and thus they rise naturally into a representation of 
character in the spiritual' and angelic spheres. The sequel to 
the Norwalk tragedy has been produced in this way by Mrs. 
Mettler and another lady ; and they who saw it say that it was 
given with such wonderful power, that there was not a dry eye 
present. The transition of a beautiful spirit, that of a lady who 
was involved in the catastrophe, was represented and also the 
introduction of a person of a very gross mind and character 
into the Spirit-world. The contrast was vivid and affecting in 
the extreme. 



CHAPTER XX. 



THE CONSECRATION. 



On Saturday, January 29, 1853, John M. Spear, of Boston, 
received a communication purporting to be from the spirit of 
Benjamin Rush, commanding him to go to Hartford, saying at 
the same time he would find a most important work to do there. 
At this time he had concluded not to accept an invitation of 
the Harmonial Brotherhood to spend the next day, (Saturday,) 
with them. But obedient to the heavenly dictation, he set off 
immediately ; and by half past eight arrived in Hartford. He 
was hardly seated, however, at the hospitable fire-side of the 
friend who had written him, when he received a distinct im- 
pression to visit the house of J. R. Mettler. Following this 
impression, while at the house of Mr. Mettler he passed into 



THE CONSECRATION. 105 

the superior condition ; and soon after addressed Mrs. Mettler 
as follows : 

" How fondly, how constantly, how widely, is this one beloved ! 
How beautiful is the influence which this woman exerts ! Wherever 
she is she attracts. In this particular she possesses a most remark- 
able character. Her friends know no bounds to their affections to 
this one ; and there is nothing which they would leave undone to 
gratify her. There passes from this woman a very marked influence. 
It is not precisely the religious influence ; it is not precisely the 
moral ; it is not precisely the practical ; but it is, so to speak, a 
compost of all ; and these are charmingly intermingled — imparting 
a most adhesive influence. * * * 

" This medium has been commissioned to wisely instruct this wo- 
man, for a high purpose. There is to open before this woman a new 
and beautiful labor. At 10 o'clock to-morrow the purpose of his 
mission to this place will be unfolded. Let this woman be in the 
region of the Tranquilities at that hour. 

At the appointed time Mr. Spear made the following ad- 
dress : 

" Father of Fathers, and Deity of Deities, thy wills be done on the 
earths, as they are done in the Heaven of Heavens. 

"This fondly loved one shall be consecrated to the Charities. 
Thou henceforth shalt be called Charity. That shall be thy denom- 
ination. 

" T*iou shalt say to the sufferer on his couch, arise, and it shall be 
so ; thou shalt say to the maimed, be thou whole, and it shall be so ; 
thou shalt say to the blind, open thou thy closed eyes, and this also 
shall be ; thou shalt say to the dead, arise, and it shall come to pass. 
Thou shalt pass through the humble vale, over the lofty mountain, 
over rivers and seas ; and the elements shall be at thy command. 



106 BIOGRAPHY OF MILS. METTLER. 

Nought shall disturb thy sweet placidity. No want shalt thou 
know. 

" This open hand shall bless others ; and thou shalt thyself be blest. 
This foot shall go and come. Thou shalt mount up like the bird of 
loftiest flight, and thou shalt never be wearied. Thou shalt ' go and 
come, nor ever fear to die, till thou art called home. 1 Happy shall 
they be who behold thy sweet countenance. Blessed are they on 
whom thy hand rests. Receive now this blessed power. [Here Mrs. 
Ms hand was closed and breathed an — when it opened it was said:] 
" This hand shall be unfolded to dispense blessings far and wide. 
Blessings shall descend upon thee. In blessing others thou, thyself, 
shalt be blest. Thou shalt go on in thy mysterious way, dispensing 
blessings. It is done." 

Thus closed this remarkable and solemn communication, the 
Speaker being all the time upon his bended knees. 



CHAPTER XXI. 



LATER CURES. 



The following certificates were, as I believe, presented vol- 
untarily for insertion in this book, by the parties most con- 
cerned : 

REMARKABLE CURE BY CLAIRVOYANCE. 

Bridgeport, April, 1852. 
I hereby certify that I had been troubled for several years with 
ulcerations in my throat, caused at first by slight colds, inducing a 



LATER CURES. 10t 

disease which is generally called quinsy. The ulcers became so bad 
that the physicians were obliged to resort to the lancet, blistering, 
and steaming, all of which not only failed to afford any permanent 
relief, but even seemed to increase the difficulty, until at length it 
became a seated bronchial affection, and continued in a constant 
state of ulceration for several months, baffling all the skill of the phy- 
sicians, and almost the last power of endurance in the sufferer. The 
irritation and cough were very severe ; and during the paroxysms, it 
seemed as if my head would burst with the pressure. At this time I 
became so reduced, that my friends and neighbors thought I was 
going into a decline. 

Finally, as a last resort, by the desire of my friends, I was per- 
suaded to consult Mrs. Mettler. Unfortunate is it, indeed, for that 
excellent lady, that she seldom, if ever, has even a tolerably good 
case presented to her ; but she is generally called to administer for the 
help of old chronic difficulties where the patient's constitution has 
been killed out with mercury, bleeding, and blistering, and then res- 
urrectionized for further experiment with blue pills. In fact, Mrs. 
Mettler, for the most part, has but a shadow of hope to work upon ; 
and it would seem that the many hundred cures she has made were 
almost, and in fact many of them quite, as miraculous as any that 
were made in the Apostolic age. 

In the Spring of 1850 I called upon Mrs. Mettler, who, in the supe- 
rior condition, examined my case ; and for the first time during all 
my sufferings, were my feelings most perfectly described. She dis- 
covered that there was still a little hope for me. My spirits revived. 
I commenced her treatment, and obtained immediate relief, though 
it took some time to effect a cure. This delay was protracted by 
several causes. My disease was very malignant in its character, and 
of long standing ; but the greatest difficulty arose from negligence 
in following the directions. At one time I was taken with unusual 
severity, when a physician was sent for ; and on examination he 



108 BIOGRABHY OF UBS. KETTLER. 

thought it might be the whooping-cough. Knowing myself that 
this was, in all probability, incorrect, I sent for Mrs. Mettler, who, 

In her examination, discovered the actual cause— which was that I 
had taken cold such a night, in a lecture room. 1 soon obtained 
relief iV<>m her prescription ; and my throat has never ulcerated once 
since the first application of the remedies proposed by her. 

1 am now happy in declaring myself in the full enjoyment of phys- 
ical health, and mental harmony, with the fullest assurance that the 
supposed weak things of Earth do sometimes confound the wise. 
May the life of this good woman long be preserved, as her work is 
an exemplification of the Angels' mission to suffering Humanity. 
Yours for truth and harmony, 

Eliza C. Leeds. 

WONDERFUL DISrATCIl. 

It is well known to my friends and acquaintances generally, that I 
am subject to a disease which may properly be termed an inflamma- 
tory action of the heart. These attacks have been so severe that 
many times I have longed for that release of the soul, which is com- 
monly termed death. All applications of medical skill have only 
seemed to aggravate the difficulty ; and for several years past my 
complaint has bid defiance to all strictly professional means of relief. 

After having sunk so low as to be almost beyond the reach of 
hope, I then called to my aid the powers of clairvoyance. I ap- 
plied to Mrs. Mettler, whose powers and sympathies are so widely 
known, and obtained from her the relief I had long despaired of 
finding. The remedies and directions prescribed by her while in 
the superior state of clairvoyance, have several times been the means 
of raising me from the lowest stage of physical and mental suffering. 

On the 19th of March last, I had one of these attacks, which 
threatened to be more severe than any previous one. A telegraphic 
dispatch was immediately forwarded to Mrs. Mettler, requesting that 



LATER CURES. 109 

an examination and prescription might be made out, and, if possi- 
ble, returned immediately. After having sent the dispatch, fearing 
that I should get no return till Monday, as it was then Saturday 
night, a physician was called in, who belonged to the old school 
practice. He pronounced my case to be of a very critical nature, as 
there was great danger of a congestion of the heart. He left a pre- 
scription, which, however, I did not take, for I had in the mean time 
received an answer from Mrs. Mettler. 

As I have been subsequently informed, Mr. Mettler on receiving 
the dispatch, thought it would be impossible to look at the case 
before Monday, as Mrs. Mettler was quite exhausted from a long sit- 
ting that day. While they were thus conversing, Mrs. Mettler was 
thrown into the superior condition by spirits, examined the case, 
made out a prescription, and requested her husband to send it imme- 
diately. In less than half an hour after Mrs. Mettler received the 
message, I had the result of her impressions before me. 

A more wonderful event than this, perhaps, is not found recorded 
in the annals of medicine. The prescription was soon applied, and 
the relief from my intense sufferings appeared truly miraculous ; even 
as the dispatch and the examination itself. 

The singular accuracy with which Mrs Mettler described my case 
was truly remarkable, even mentioning a cold which had hastened 
the attack. Finally, I say that those who are willing to lay aside 
their prejudices and ignorance, may find relief from their sufferings, 
by applying to Mrs. Mettler, who is truly a most worthy and remark- 
able woman. Joseph Haight. 

Bridgeport, April 2, 1853. 

ANOTHER REMARKABLE CURE. 

In the month of January last, while on business in New- York, I 
was taken violently sick. ' I sent for a physician of acknowledged 
skill, who, on examination, discovered that the attack was an acute 



110 BIO0BAPHY OK MRS. METTLER. 

and dangerous one. It consisted in an almost entire suspension of 
activity in the right lung, combined with an inflamed state of the 
liver, and other difficult* 

After having remained under the treatment of the physician for 
about two weeks, he informed me that he could not cure me. I then 
resolved t<> reach home, though at the risk of my life, as I was then 
told. On arriving home, I called in a physician, and requested him 
to blister me, and give blue pills, which, however, did not seem 
adapted to my case. It was then thought by different persons who 
called to see me, that I could not live ; while some even supposed I 
could not continue forty-eight hours. 

I then dispatched a messenger for Mrs. Mettler. She could not 
leave, to come and examine my case, but sent me a little prescrip- 
tion, which I took for a day or two, until she could come in person, 
and examine me. On the following Sunday, February 13th, she 
came, and made the examination. AVhile in her exalted condition of 
clairvoyance, she saw my case in a very discouraging point of view. 
She first described the state I had been in before the attack, then the 
present state of things, which was as follows : 

" I perceive that now there is extreme inflammation of the liver and 
the lower portion of the right lung, with lung and bilious fever." 

The respiration was extremely short so that it was impossible to 
pronounce a whole sentence, without a constant catching in attempting 
to speak. What little mucus I raised was considerably streaked with 
blood ; and there seemed no chance for my recovery. The eyes were 
much sunken, and I looked as though death had commenced its work. 

After the examination, Mrs. Mettler, still in the clairvoyant state, 
began making manipulations over the chest and side ; and in less 
than half an hour, with nothing but the power of her own hands, she 
succeeded in relieving me so much, that the inflammation was quite 
subdued, and respiration much freer, so that I could draw in quite a 
long breath. 



LATER CURES. Ill 

After this she gave me a prescription, which I followed ; and in a 
few days I was 'able to go down stairs. I continued to improve, so 
that in a few weeks I could use my lungs quite freely, by speaking 
in public. 

Thus it is. That which is too often called humbug proves to be 
the good Samaritan, in relieving human suffering — and often, too, in . 
such cases as are classed among impossibilities. 

This good lady's powers are felt far and wide ; and my strong 
desire is that Heaven's blessings may continue to flow down through 
her, to relieve the sick and distressed, wherever her benign ministry 
may be permitted to reach. Thine in the Truth, 

Hartford, April, 1853. Charles Shepard. 

POWER OF CLAIRVOYANCE OVER PHYSICAL SUFFERING. 

I hereby certify that my little boy met with a very serious acci- 
dent in the month of June, 1851. His clothes took fire by a lighted 
match, and before we could get to him he was most severely burned 
on his face, arms, and sides. We had two physicians in attendance ; 
and every possible means of relief was resorted to, but without much 
effects, though after the physicians commenced treating his case he 
seemed better for a little while. He, soon, however, began to grow 
worse. The arm was much contracted, and quite stiff; and by this 
time the physicians had begun to despair of his ever being any bet- 
ter. The case had become one of long standing ; and his sufferings 
were approaching a fearful crisis. I was very anxious ; for so far 
were we from being able to cure him, that we could not even heal 
the deep and malignant sores, of which he had suffered so long and 
terribly. 

So he remained until the month of October, when I was persuaded 
fry some of my neighbors to apply to Mrs. Mettler. I accordingly 
took him to Bridgeport, when Mrs. Mettler without the least knowl- 



112 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. MKTTLER. 

edge of the circumstances before the examination, gave a most perfect 
description of his case even to the first cause of bis sufferings. She then 
gave a prescription, and we persevered with her directions, as she gave 
them from time to time, with most happy results. Directly after we 
commenced this treatment, the little patient began improving quite 
rapidly. In a few months he was perfectly restored ; and the con- 
traction in the arm relaxed, so that he can now use it nearly or quite 
as well as before. 

We are grateful to Mrs. Mettler for her kindness in restoring our 
little boy ; for we know that she has been the instrument of saving 
his life. Should some poor sufferer be prompted to obtain relief by 
reading this, then I have not given it in vain. 

In sympathy I remain, yours, 

Darien, Ct., May, 1852. William Dibble. 

The bare facts in the foregoing cases are so truly wonderful that 
comment seems unnecessary. We have every reason to believe 
that Mrs. Mettler has not yet reached the maximum of her 
spiritual power. While she lives she must progress ; and we 
may confidently look forward to yet more remarkable works. 



CHAPTER XXII. 

PORTRAIT OF KOSSUTH CONCLUSION. 

As a final illustration of the spiritual gifts of Mrs. Mettler, 
the reader is presented with the following admirable portrait of 
Kossuth, as psychometrically delineated : 

[Directly after placing the letter to her forehead, she says :] This 
person must feel exhausted, for I feel so. I feel like sighing, and 



TORTRAIT OF KOSSUTH. 113 

oppressed for want of breath, like one fainting from exhaustion. 
Must I give way to my feelings ? Then my hand and arm must rise, 
and extend themselves. There must be a waving and gesture, of 
first one hand and then the other, as of one speaking to a crowd. Who 
is it ; and what does it mean ? I feel a wonderful nervous action 
after these exertions. 

[The above were passing remarks, before she got fairly into the 
sphere of the writer. Again she says :] This must be a gentleman 
possessing the most wonderful gifts of oratory and intelligence, with a 
most massive brain and intellect. The head at times seems almost 
ready to burst with the accumulation of ideas. 

Intuition is the great governing principle with this individual. 
The spiritual element predominates in the character. There are no 
bounds to his calculations — there is no one thing too great for him 
to undertake. His perceptive powers seem to lead him almost, if 
not entirely, beyond every other mind, calculating, with almost a 
certainty, the end from the beginning. 

This must be a person whose knowledge is truly astonishing. His 
mind must be naturally educated, and not governed by books, or the 
opinions of others. He forms his own conclusions — is extremely 
firm and fixed in his own opinions, and never seems to waver, or turn 
from what he conceives to be right. 

This person seems to possess unbounded benevolence. He can not 
rest contented by being blest himself ; but his great aim and desire 
appear to be the redemption of the world. His fellow beings must 
all partake of the great bounty, and blessings of liberty. So strong 
is this feeling, that if he had but one morsel, it would be shared with 
others. 

His powers of concentration are truly remarkable. He has also 
large cautiousness, but no timidity, with very large combativeness, 
which he would be likely to exercise in defense of Self, Family, and 
Country. 



114 BIOGRAPHY OF MRS. METTLER. 

Ho is one that would win all hearts to himself ; and no one could 
see him, or become acquainted with him in the least, without feeling 
an attachment which can not be severed. 1 never came into the 
Sphere of such a mind. 1 feel at times as though 1 was almost lifted 
from the Earth — that I could not be else than spirit, as words flow 
into my mind in such a manner — with such wonderful rapidity, that 
the tongue is scarcely able to utter what I feel, and desire to express. 
I feel at times as though appealing to the sympathies of those 
around me, and then again such boldness and consciousness of right, 
that I could face a whole nation — and they would sink into insignifi- 
cance before the principle for which I contend. I seem to be sup- 
ported and sustained by a constant influx of spiritual strength, which 
enables me to speak in such a manner, that not only astonishes my- 
self, but all who hear me. 

This must be a great Statesman. All the common affairs of life 
appear to be nothing, compared with the great end which this indi- 
vidual seems to have in view. He can not be bound by either sect 
or party. He seems determined to throw off all shackles from him- 
self and country. Freedom of thought, speech, and action, is his 
motto. He is untiring in his exertions, and must be self-forgetful. 
He appears to be spending his life for a cause most dear to his heart 
— and that must be Liberty. But by his exertions he is fast ex- 
hausting his physical strength ; and were he not sustained by spirit- 
ual influence, he could not last long. I should never tire in contem- 
plating and sympathizing with this remarkable man ; and his sphere 
is most delightful to me ! 

CONCLUSION. 

In reviewing the whole testimony of her life, we find the 
character of Mrs. Mettler a very harmonious and beautiful one. 
Boldness of conception, strength, truthfulness, indomitable per- 



CONCLUSION. 115 

severance and will, with a power of endurance perfectly heroic, 
are softened and etherealized by tenderness, fidelity, patience and 
conscientiousness, wrought into the most gentle and delicate 
inspirations of a truly feminine nature. Her mental manifesta- 
tions are distinguished by a singular fineness of taste and feel- 
ing ; while overspreading, softening, beautifying all, is a rare 
and sweet modesty, which, like a transparent vail, enhances the 
beauty it yet feels itself made to conceal. Indeed, no one 
could be acquainted with her, without feeling how truly, and 
wisely, she has been consecrated to the Charities. 







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